STUDY LINKS PESTICIDES TO MALE INFERTILITY
LONDON, 27th July 2001 - French and Argentine researchers produced new evidence today showing that exposure to pesticides and solvents could be contributing to falling sperm counts and rising levels of male infertility.
In a study of 225 men from a productive farming region in Argentina, the scientists found exposure to insecticides, herbicides and fungicides could limit their ability to have children.
"Exposure to pesticides and solvents is significantly associated with threshold sperm values much lower than the considered limits for male fertility," Dr Luc Multigner of the French research institute INSERM said in a report in the journal Human Reproduction.
Dwindling sperm counts have been a cause of concern since Danish researchers reported in 1992 that sperm counts worldwide were declining. Many experts blame environmental factors for the decline, as well as an increase in testicular cancer.
Multigner and Alejandro Oliva of the Hospital Italiano Garibaldi in Rosario, Argentina, questioned all of the men who had attended an infertility clinic between 1995-98 about their lifestyle, medical history, occupation and exposure to pesticides.
Although other factors may also be contributing to their infertility, the scientists said exposure to pesticides and solvents were a factor.
"Our results suggest that toxicants act on the testes and post-testicular sites, including accessory sex glands," said Multigner.
"The testicles are one of the most vulnerable organs to environmental, physical and chemical agents." Oliva also noted that Argentina has become a major user of pesticides since the 1940s and said developing countries should be aware of the harmful effects of pesticides and solvents.