title: Follicle-stimulating hormone levels in female workers exposed to urban pollutants.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate if there were alterations in FSH plasma levels in female outdoor workers (traffic policewomen and drivers) exposed to chemical urban stressors vs. control group. After excluding subjects with main confounding factors, traffic policewomen, drivers and indoor workers were matched by age, working life, socioeconomic status, marital status, menstrual cycle day, age of menarche, habitual consumption of Italian coffee and soy. A total of 129 female subjects were included in the study: some 63 workers studied during proliferative phase and 66 during secretory phase of menstrual cycle. Proliferative phase of menstrual cycle: FSH mean values were significantly higher in traffic policewomen compared to controls (p < 0.05). Results suggest that in outdoor workers exposed to urban chemical stressors there are alterations in FSH levels; therefore FSH may be used as an early biological marker, valuable for the group, used in occupational set.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciarrocca
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Caciari
authors.forename: Barnaba Giuseppina
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Ponticiello
authors.forename: Pier Agostino
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gioffrè
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomei
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sancini
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Schifano
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palermo
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nardone
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scimitto
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiaschetti
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tomei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D002947:Cities; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008183:Luteal Phase / Q000097:blood; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone