Exposure to pesticides and time to pregnancy among female greenhouse workers.
The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible effect of maternal work in greenhouses, as characterised by potentially high exposure to pesticides, on female fertility. Nine hundred and ten women active in 34 greenhouse flower growing enterprises in 1998-2000, with at least one pregnancy, and aged less than 50 years were identified. Seven hundred and seventeen (79%) agreed to be interviewed and reported 1699 pregnancies, of which 713 had complete information on time to pregnancy and occupation. These pregnancies were classified as exposed or non-exposed according to the maternal occupation in greenhouses at the moment of conception and analysed using logistic regression and survival analysis methods. We found a slightly higher proportion of pregnancies with delayed conception (more than 6 months) in the exposed group. However, after adjustment for confounding variables, the estimated hazard ratio for reduced fertility among the exposed was not significantly different to that of the non-exposed pregnancies (HR=0.96, 95%CI: 0.81, 1.13). A significant reduction in fecundability was observed in older women and with a daily consumption of one or more alcoholic beverages or cups of tea.
Lauria
Laura
L
National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome 00161, Italy. lauria@asplazio.it
Settimi
Laura
L
Spinelli
Angela
A
Figà-Talamanca
Irene
I
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000383:Agriculture; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013662:Tea / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
D010575:Pesticides; D013662:Tea