title: Infertility among cosmetologists.
abstract: Although chemicals used in hair salons have been linked to infertility in animal models, little is known about whether exposures in hair salons are associated with infertility in women. Thus, a survey-based study was performed to investigate infertility in 448 cosmetologists and 508 non-cosmetologists working in Baltimore, Maryland and its surrounding counties. Infertility was assessed with questions addressing time-to-pregnancy (TTP) length (>or=12 months), consulting a medical professional about fertility problems, and taking medication to become or maintain a pregnancy. Occupational exposure was assessed by job tasks and customers served per week. There were no statistically significant associations between working as a cosmetologist and the odds of TTP>or=12 months, consulting a medical professional about infertility, or taking medication to either become or maintain a pregnancy. The data suggest that cosmetologists are not at increased risk for infertility compared to women of the same age working in other occupations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: Jackye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallicchio
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zacur
authors.forename: Jodi A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Flaws
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001461:Barbering / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014931:Women, Working / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult