Reproductive effects of chemical exposures in health professions.
Numerous chemical substances are handled by persons working in the health care sector. At exposure levels that may occur in the occupational setting, some of these substances are potentially harmful to the reproductive processes. Among the potentially harmful substances are anesthetic gases, antineoplastic agents, and sterilants. The epidemiological evidence of increased risks for adverse reproductive effects (eg, subfertility, spontaneous abortions, congenital defects) from such exposure is not unequivocal. However, due to the toxic potential, exposures should be kept at a minimum, and this may be especially important for workers who are pregnant or are planning to achieve pregnancy.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Orebro Medical Centre Hospital, Sweden.
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G
Ahlborg
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K
Hemminki
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012098:Reproduction; D012307:Risk Factors
D015386:Hazardous Substances