Environmental contaminant levels and fecundability among non-smoking couples.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of low level maternal and paternal persistent contaminant exposures on fecundability among couples from the general population.


METHODS
About 41 couples having their first pregnancy completed questionnaires and provided blood samples for analysis of metals, organochlorine pesticides, and polychorinated biphenyls. Associations of personal consumption and contaminant measures for mothers, fathers, and couples overall were analyzed through fecundability odds ratios (fOR, probability of pregnancy per month in more versus less exposed) in multivariable analyses.


RESULTS
Couples with higher reported caffeine consumption (couple consumption > or =111 drinks/month, fOR 0.25, 95% CI, 0.10, 0.63) and higher mercury concentrations in maternal blood (>1.2 microg/L or 0.24 ppm in hair, fOR 0.22, 95% CI, 0.07, 0.72) had lower fecundability, after adjustment for intercourse frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced fecundability at levels below the mercury reference dose warrants further research and prudent reduction in persistent toxic substances exposure among women and men of reproductive age.
Cole
Donald C
DC
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont., Canada; Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Ont., Canada.
Wainman
Bruce
B
Sanin
Luz Helena
LH
Weber
Jean-Philippe
JP
Muggah
Henry
H
Ibrahim
Selahadin
S
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008628:Mercury / Q000097:blood; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018812:Paternal Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D017584:Reproductive History; D012907:Smoking; D018454:Spouses; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D000393:Air Pollutants; D007306:Insecticides; D001556:Hexachlorocyclohexane; D008628:Mercury