Implications of research in male-mediated developmental toxicity to clinical counsellors, regulators, and occupational safety officers.
In closing, let me return to the somewhat irreverent question that I asked at the beginning: Apart from what we learn about fundamentally important biological processes, does male-mediated developmental toxicity make any practical difference? The answer is no, yes, and we don't know. No: The risk of serious birth defects in the future children of a man who is concerned about exposure to radiation or chemicals in the remote past does not appear to be measurably increased in comparison to the background. Yes: Male-mediated developmental toxicity may be of sufficient concern to restrict certain exposures in the population as a whole, but in order for male-mediated developmental toxicity to be determinative, these conditions will have to be otherwise non-toxic. To date, no exposures have been identified that produce substantial male-mediated developmental toxicity in the complete absence of other kinds of toxicity. We don't know how big a problem male-mediated developmental toxicity really is because we have not studied a large enough number and variety of exposures. We don't know if our perspective will change as we begin to understand the importance of individual susceptibility better. We don't know all of the mechanisms that may be involved in male-mediated developmental toxicity or their general biological importance. We don't know more than we do know about male-mediated developmental toxicity, and we are anxious to learn more.
Friedman
J M
JM
Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3. jfriedman@cw.bc.ca
D000016:Abnormalities, Radiation-Induced; D000818:Animals; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018812:Paternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D012449:Safety