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 Information Compiled by Wayne Sinclair, M.D. Richard W. Pressinger, (M.Ed.) Graduate Research Project, University of South Florida, Tampa |
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Environmental Causes of Infertility and Miscarriage provides surprising evidence on how common chemicals in the home and workplace can weaken or damage the reproductive process in both men an women. The majority of information has been summarized from major medical journals. Journal names, dates and titles are provided with each summary. |
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| Infertility Toxicology Topics Chlorine Disinfection - Cosmetics - Fragrances - Job Exposures - Cigarettes - Pesticide Use - Vehicle Exhaust - Home Products - Coffee - MSG (flavor enhancer) - Plastics - PCB's Nutrasweet (artificial sweetener) - Alcohol - Food Additives |
| While the research below discusses negative effects occurring from a single environmental exposure, effects from combined exposures could be expected to have a far greater harmful effect on fertility. Therefore, by decreasing or eliminating exposure to as many of the following circumstances as possible, we could expect to observe even further improvements in fertility. |
| Evidence below also demonstrates the same environmental circumstances responsible for infertility and miscarriage can also increase the risk of having a child with mental retardation, learning disabilities or behavior problems (such as A.D.D.). This is based on the premise that avoidance of these circumstances will also increase the genetic integrity of the child, thereby encouraging maximum gene expression related to all aspects of human behavior from personality - to talent - to academic learning ability. |
Infertility & Miscarriage
Research Summaries
(Information summarized from major medical journals and magazine articles)
| Percentage of women with infertility
differs with age
15-24 years old.......... 4.1% 25-34 years old.......... 13.1% 35-44 years old.......... 21.4% |
National Center for Health Statistics Redbook Magazine, August, 1993 |
| The risk of miscarriage differs with
age 20-29 years old.......... 10% risk of miscarriage 45 or older ............... 50% risk of miscarriage |
Chatelaine Magazine November 1993, pg. 26 |
| Male infertility increases over past
40 years One-half of 1% of men were functionally sterile in 1938. Today it has reached between 8-12% (an over 15-fold increase). "Functionally sterile" is defined as sperm counts below 20 million per milliliter of semen. Note: A recent report attaining media attention states sperm count has not declined over the past 4 decades. However, note how the study used the dates of 1951 for the 1st comparison study. 1951 was well after the introduction of large amounts of chemicals into society and was a year in which vehicle emissions contained both high levels of lead and large amounts of toxic hydrocarbon/solvent combustion products. Also, by 1951, pesticide use was making its way into consumer use. |
Dr. Cecil Jacobson Reproductive Genetics Center Vienna, Virginia
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| Miscarriage more common with low
sperm counts Women experiencing miscarriages typically had husbands with lower sperm counts. On average, 48% of male sperm appeared "abnormal" (i.e. 2 heads, 2 tails, etc.) under microscopic examination. Men who fathered normal pregnancies had 25% higher sperm counts and only 5% visually abnormal sperm. |
Drs. Mirjam Furuhjelm and Birgit Jonson Dept. of Obst. and Gyn., Sabbatsberg Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden International J. of Fertility, 7(1):17-21, 1962 |
| Diet Drink Sweetener Aspartame Damages Sperm The artificial sweetener aspartame releases the toxic metabolite methanol. In this 2017 study, researchers exposed rats to "approved" levels of aspartame for 90 days. Results showed a significant decrease in sperm function of aspartame treated animals. Free radicals appeared to be a cause of this damage - as animals exposed to aspartame had significantly reduced anti-oxidants (protection from free radical damage) which included lower levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide disumutase activity, catalase activity. Researchers stated that the increase in free radicals could cause lipid peroxidation damage to the testis. Aspartame treated animals also had reduced space in seminiferous tubules which resulted in reduced Leydig cells. |
Intermational Journal of Impot Research April 27, 2017 University of Madras, Chemmai, India Pondicherry Uniersity, Puducherry, India |
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Miscarriage more common living near agriculture/pesticides Women who lived within 2 miles of of where certain pesticides were used faced twice the risk of miscarriage. Women who lived within 1 mile of farming areas using organophosphate or carbamate pesticides experienced a 40% increase in miscarriage. |
Dr. Erin Bell (Ph.D.) |
| Oxidative Stress Linked to Infertility - Birth Defects When oxygen is used in cells it produces a toxic by-product called a free-radical. All cells have protection from these free-radicals called anti-oxidants. However, some people have less anti-oxidant protection than others. When there are more free-radicals being formed than protective antioxidants, it causes a condition known as "oxidative stress." This causes greatly increased damage to the cell and eventually cell death. Oxidative stress can occur from many petroleum chemical sources. Researchers in this study found that over production of free radicals (Reactive Oxygen Species) has a "significant impact on fertilization." This study provides a biological explanation why other chemicals discussed in our review can cause infertility, miscarriage and birth defects. |
Postepy Hig Med Dows Vol. 71(0): 359-366 May 9, 2017 |
| 40% of couple infertility is due to the male | Dr. Pat McShane Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston Massachusetts |
| Sperm damage from the common chemical Phthalates - found in perfume - plug-in air fresheners - fabric softeners - body lotions - colognes - shampoos & body creams According to the scientists - This study represents the first human data to demonstrate that normal environmental levels of the chemical known as "Phthalates" (pronounced "thalates") - is associated with increased DNA damage in sperm. Phthalates are a chemical added to many products as a thickening agent (i.e., perfumes - colognes & shampoos) and as a chemical to make plastics soft and pliable. |
Susan M Duty, Nerendra P Singh Department of Environmental Health |
| Nationwide infertility
rates A study by the National Center for Health Statistics estimated in 1988 that 8.4% of women 15-44 years had impaired ability to have children and about half of these couples eventually conceive. (These are overall average infertility figures pertaining only to women - statistics will vary greatly depending on the age of the woman. Couple infertility rates are nearly double this percentage since it then takes into account male infertility). |
Dr. Howard Jones New
England Journal of Medicine Article entitled "The Infertile Couple" |
| Fertility treatments not very
effective Expensive fertility treatments resulted in only a 6 percentage point improvement in achieving pregnancy over "infertile" couples who just "kept trying." In a study of 1,145 couples who had been diagnosed as infertile, only half of them were treated to help attain pregnancy. After a two to seven-year follow-up, pregnancies occurred in 41% of the treated couples and 35% of the untreated couples. |
Dr. John A. Collins Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario New England Journal of Medicine |
| More evidence fertility treatments
not effective Another study of 2,000 couples found "roughly the same" small improvements in achieving pregnancy when comparing couples who sought fertility treatments and those who kept trying. |
Dr. John A. Collins Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario Journal: Sterility Fertility Journal, Fall 1993 |
| IVF (in-vitro fertilization) increases birth defects Children born using IVF have nearly a 3 times greater risk of developing cerebral palsy than children born through normal conception. Developmental delays were 4 times more common in IVF children. The study compared 5,680 chilren born after IVF and compared them with 11,360 non-IVF children. |
Stromberg, Dahlquist, Ericson, Finnstrom, Koster, Stjerngist Department of Women and Child Health Lancet: 2002: 359(9305):461-5, Feb 9, 2002 |
| Infertility treatments were a $1
billion a year industry in the 1990's and $2 billion by 2015.
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HealthFacts American RadioWorks |
| Excessive sperm damage linked to older homes Men with higher levels of a chemical known as PCB's have increased rates of chromosome abnormalities in their sperm (the largest cause of infertility and miscarriage). PCB's were originally used as a coolant in electric power transformers on utility poles decades ago, but new studies show it was also used extensively in the construction and renovation of homes built in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. PCB sources include - mortar between concrete blocks and bricks - caulking - paints - floor varnishes - under tile - adhesives under carpet - gaskets in AC ventilation - wall joints and also in roofing and siding. PCB's were used primarily to thicken and impart flexibility in these products. Other sources include light fixture ballasts in flurorescent lights which begin leaking if installed during the 50's, 60's and 70's. See link at right for brochure detailing these sources. |
Megan E McAuliffe Paige L. Williams Suisan A. Korrick SOURCE: Environmental Health Perspectives View Article Online Brochure: PCB Sources in Construction |
| Failed embryo implantation caused by PCB's As stated above, PCB's are toxic chemicals found in the air of older homes built in the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Women with the highest levels of what is called PCB 153 had twice as many failed implantations and were 41% less likely to have a live birth than women who had the lowest levels of PCB 153. This is a very significant finding since there were 765 women participating in the study. |
Meeker JD, et al. Enviornmental Health Perspectices View Article Online |
| Miscarriage rates
higher living near agriculture Mothers who lived near crops where certain pesticides were sprayed faced a 40 to 120 percent increase in risk of miscarriage due to birth defects. |
Erin Bell (Ph.D.) University of North Carolina School of Public Health SOURCE: Epidemiology, March 2001 |
| 20% of all cases where the male is the only contributing factor to infertility can be corrected by lifestyle. | Dr. Wolfram Nolten
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism University of Wisconsin |
| Lower sperm count increases risk of
miscarriage The odds of having a miscarriage or child with birth defects raises dramatically when fathers have lower sperm counts. When the fathers sperm counts were above 80 million/ml they had only a 1% birth defect rate compared to 6% for the general population. Miscarriages were also lower for the fathers with higher sperm counts - 6% compared to 12% for the general population.
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Dr. J. K. Sherman University of Arkansas study of 1000 children whose mothers were artificially inseminated with sperm from men whose sperm counts were above 80 million per milliliter. Washington Star Newspaper |
Water chlorine decreases sperm quality CHEM-TOX COMMENT: This one seems relatively easy to correct - purchase a chlorine shower filter to remove this chemical.
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Drs. Qiang-Zeng, Yi-Xin Wang, Shao-Hua Xie, Liang Xu, Yong-Zhe Chen, Min Li, Jing Yur, Yu-Feng Li, Ai-Lin Liu, We-Zng Lu Environmental Health Perspectives |
Infertile couples have higher levels of thalates CHEM-TOX COMMENT: |
Giovann Tranfo, Lidia Caporossi, Toxicology Letters |
| Flame retardant chemical higher in infertile women Flame retardant chemicals, called PBDE's, are added to foam rubber in couch cushions, carpet pads and to materials in new beds. Women with 8-10 times higher levels of PBDE's in their blood were 30% less likely to become pregnant. The European Union banned PBDE's in 2002, but a ban has not been done in the U.S. Not surprisingly, Americans have 20 times more PBDE's in their blood than Europeans. |
Kim G. Harley, Amy R. Marks, Jonathan Chevrier, Asa Bradman, Andreas, Sjodin, Brenda Eskenazi Environmental Health Perspectives |
| Smokers have lower sperm counts Smokers sperm counts are on average 13%-17% lower than nonsmokers. |
Dr. Marilyn F. Vine University of North Carolina Fertility Sterility Journal 6(1):35-43, 1994 |
| Stopping smoking increases sperm counts A study of three smokers who were followed for 5-15 months after stopping smoking reported that their sperm counts rose 50-800%, suggesting that toxic chemicals in the smoke are responsible and any reduction in sperm count is reversible. |
(same article as above) |
| Smokers have more abnormal sperm "Male smokers have an increase in sperm abnormalities, thereby suggesting a mutagenic effect." |
Quoted from: American J. of Epidemiology 140(10):921-928, 1994 The original study was reported in the journal Lancet, Volume 1:627-629, 1981 |
| Cigarette consumption increases over 40
years "Cigarette consumption in the U.S. has increased 3-4 fold from 1940 to the beginning of the 1980's." |
Dr. R. J. Ravalet Population Develop. Reviews Vol. 16:213-240, 1990 |
| Smokers face higher infertility 38% of female non-smokers conceived in their 1st cycle of attempting pregnancy compared to 28% of smokers. Smokers were also 3-4 times more likely than non-smokers to have taken greater than a year to conceive. |
Dr. D. Baird Journal of American Medical Association |
| Abnormally shaped sperm linked to decreased fertilization "A high number of abnormal sperm heads is associated with decreased fertilization. Some drugs such as sulphasalazine, used to treat inflammatory bowel disease can drastically reduce semen quality." |
Dr. N. E. Skakkebaek University Dept. of Growth and Reproduction Lancet, June 11, 1994, pg. 1474 |
| Pesticides suspected of causing infertility Men experiencing infertility were found to be employed in agricultural/pesticide related jobs 10 times more often than a study group of men not experiencing infertility. See related articles showing pesticides can damage sperm and testicles. |
Dr. Hein Strokum Institute of Sterility Treatment, Vienna, Austria American Journal of Industrial Medicine |
| Common pesticide reduces sperm count Lower sperm counts and visual damage to the sperm producing section of the testicles (called the seminiferous tubules), were found in test subjects exposed to the pesticide chlordane. |
Drs. Khawla J. Balash, Muthanna A. Al-Omar Univ. of Baghdad, Biological Research CenterScientific Research Council, Baghdad, Iraq Bulletin of Environmental Contamination Tox. |
| Pesticides in food reduce sperm count Animals were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 was fed wheat grown with chemical fertilzers alone - Group 2 was fed wheat using chemical fertilzers and manure - Group 3 was fed wheat grown using organic compost. Microscopic inspection showed the seminiferous tubules were larger and properly shaped when compared to mice eating food grown using only chemical methods. Seminferous tubules are the structures that make sperm. Hey guys... Time to eat organic for 3 months! |
Drs. Patricia P Scott, J.P. Greaves, M.G. Scott Royal Free Hospital of Medicine, London Journal of Reproductive Fertility, 1: 130-138, 1960 |
Laundry detergent chemical lowers sperm count CHEM-TOX COMMENT: |
C Y Lu, C H Chang, R S Lin, Y C Hung, P L Torng, S U Chen, F C Sung
National Taiwan University, Taipei. Epidemiology: Vol. 17(6), p S396, Nov. 2006 |
| Infertility caused by pesticide found in the air of homes built before March 1988 Approximately 75% of U.S. homes are being being found to contain the pesticide chlordane in the breathable air. Of significant concern, over 5% of homes built before March of 1988 have been found to have air levels of the pesticide chlordane above the "safe" level of 5 micrograms per cubic meter. (In homes built before 1980 this is over 20%!). If you would like more detailed information on the chlordane problem and how infertility could be caused by living in one of these homes you can visit the chlordane web site at www.chem-tox.com/chlordane
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Source: |
| Autoantibodies higher in
people exposed to pesticides The pesticide Chlorpyrifos (Dursban) was found to cause increases in autoimmune antibodies in people exposed to the pesticide. Autoantibodies are "renegade" immune system components which mistakenly attack the persons own self. (Please see other references in this report which link some cases of male and female infertility to autoimmune disorders in which the immune cells attack either the sperm or egg. |
Drs. Jack D. Thrasher, Roberta Madison et. al. Department of Health Science California State University Archives of Environmental Health |
| Car exhaust decreases
fertility The common car exhaust compound benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) causes a significant reduction in fertility in test animals and fertility was further lowered when animals were exposed to both BaP and lead simultaneously. Results showed approximately a 33% reduction in ovarian weight and a "marked reduction in ovarian follicles." |
Drs. P. Kristensen, Einar Eilertsen, et al. National Institute of Occupation Health, Norway Environmental Health Perspectives |
| Coffee decreases fertility A study of 1,909 women in Connecticut found the risk of not conceiving for 12 months (the usual definition of infertility), was 55% higher for women drinking 1 cup of coffee per day - 100% higher for women drinking 1 and one-half to 3 cups and 176% higher for women drinking more than 3 cups of coffee per day. |
Hatah (1990) This study referenced by- Drs. Larry Dulgosz, Michael B. Brachs Yale University School of Medicine Epidemiologic Reviews |
| Coffee increases miscarriage risk Coffee drinking before and during pregnancy was associated with over twice the risk of miscarriage when the mother consumed 2-3 cups of coffee per day.
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Dr. Claire Infante-Rivard Department of Occupation Health Faculty of Medicine McGill University, Quebec Canada Journal of the American Medical Association December 22, 1993 |
| Coffee reduces blood to the brain Coffee drinking caused a 20-25% reduction in blood flow to the brains of healthy college volunteers 30 minutes after drinking 250 milligrams of caffeine (about the amount in a freshly brewed cup of coffee).
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Dr. Roy J . Mathew Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee British Journal of Psychiatry, December, 1984 |
| Spontaneous abortion after chemical exposure Spontaneous abortion increased over 4-fold for women once they became employed as microelectronics assembly workers. This job exposes women to a number of chemical solvents used in cleaning the electronic components including xylene, acetone, trichlorethylene, petroleum distillates and others, as well as solder vapors. Acetone is also used in removing nail polish. |
Drs. G. Huel, D. Mergler, R. Bowler Quebec Institute for Research in Occupational Health and Safety, University of Quebec, Canada Occupational Medicine Clinic, University of California, San Francisco, California British Journal of Industrial Medicine |
| Cocaine and abnormal offspring Cocaine exposure to males before conceiving is linked to abnormal development in offspring. The suspected cause is that cocaine binds onto the sperm and therefore, finds its way into the egg at fertilization. |
Dr. Ricardo Yazigi Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology Journal of the American Medical Association |
Food Additive MSG reduces pregnancy success
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Drs. William J. Pizzi, June E. Barnhart, et.
al. Department of Psychology Neurobehavioral Toxicology |
| 20-25% of miscarriages are due to immune system problems. | Dr. Salim Daya Chatelaine Magazine, November, 1993 |
| Miscarriages higher after chemical solvent
exposure Two solvent chemicals exposed to working pregnant mothers making silicon chips had a 33% miscarriage rate where normally the miscarriage rate is 15%. |
Time Magazine October 22, pg. 27,1992 |
| Male infertility and chemicals in drinking
water Drinking water from the Thames Water Supply in the United Kingdom was pinpointed as the cause of lower sperm counts and increases in abnormally shaped sperm. Common detergents were the chemical suspected as causing the reproductive damage. |
Dr. Jean Ginsburg London Royal Free Hospital Lancet, Jan. 22 |
| Anesthesia linked to birth defects Birth defects occurred nearly 3 times more often in a study of 621 Michigan nurse anesthetists (a nurse who helps with anesthesia preparation). A total of 16.4% of the nurses practicing anesthesia during pregnancy had children with birth defects compared to only 5.7% of nurses not practicing anesthesia. |
Drs. Thomas H. Corbett and Richard
Cornell Assistant Professor, University of Michigan Anesthesiology, 41(4), 1974 |
| Malfunctioning immune system causes
infertility The rate of autoimmune antibodies (antibodies which mistakenly attack the person's own body) was 33% in women unable to deliver a baby to full term and 0% in a control group of women with successful pregnancies. |
Dr. Eli Gea In Vitro Fertilization Unit Serlin Maternity Hospital Tel Aviv, Israel Fertility Sterility Journal, 62(4), October, 1994 |
| Risks from medical fertility treatments A common treatment for infertility is administration of follicle stimulating hormones. Regarding this treatment researchers stated, "Persistent stimulation of the ovary by gonadotropins may have a direct carcinogenic effect or an indirect effect attributable to raised concentration of estrogens." |
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Radbond University, Netherlands Lancet, April 17, 1993, pg. 987 |
| Alcohol reduces fertilization success A large 50% reduction in conception was found in experiments of test animals given "intoxicating" doses of alcohol 24 hours prior to mating. |
Dr. Theodore J. Cicero Washington University School of Medicine Science News, Vol. 146 |
| In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) success rates depend on the
woman's age: under 35 years....... 45-50% success 35-40 years............ 28-35% success age 41..................... 20% success 42 and older........... 3% success The cost of IVF can exceed $8,000- (IVF is fertilization taking place in a "test tube" after removal of a woman's egg).
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Dr. Rosenwaks New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center Redbook Magazine, August, 1993 |
| Studies of "painters" found they are more likely to father children with defects of the central nervous system | Dr. Andrew Olshan University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill U.S. News & World Report, December 14, 1992 |
| Dental workers have
higher rate of pregnancy problems More spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, and congenital defects occurred in dentists and dental assistants compared with the control group (24% compared to 11%, respectively). Five out of six malformations were spina bifida. Dentists are exposed to higher than normal rates of mercury, adhesives and chemicals used in plastics. |
Drs. Birgitte Blatter, Marjolihn van der Star, Nel Roeleveld Department of Medical Informatics and Epidemiology, University of Nijmegen, Netherlands International Archives of Occupational & Environmental Health |
| Marijuana use at "moderate" levels was found to
stop ovulation in monkeys for 103 to 135 days Researchers also stated that the THC in marijuana may be directly toxic to the developing egg. Dr. Carol Smith, the main researcher, stated, "There are nervous pathways into the hypothalamus (a gland that regulates the reproductive cycle) that are being suppressed." Dr. Smith also stressed that women who are attempting to conceive or who are pregnant should not use marijuana. |
Dr. Carol Grace Smith Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Md. Ricardo Asch, University of Texas, Austin Science, March 25, 1983 Also reported in Science News, March 26, 1983
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| Sperm damage about 50% higher after exposure to the general anesthesia enflurane. Anesthesia levels given to the animals was equal to the level that could be given to humans. | Dr. Paul C. Land and E. L. Owen Department of Anesthesia, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois Anesthesiology, 54:53-56, 1981 |
Quotes from the Harvard Health Letter: "8-10% of sperm from healthy men are abnormal, some carry the wrong chromosome while others have bits and pieces of genetic material out of place." "Because a child conceived by intoxicated parents was thought to be unhealthy, the ancient cities of Carthage and Sparta had laws prohibiting the use of alcohol by newlyweds." "The earliest evidence of a link between job occupation and reproductive problems came out in 1860 when a French scientist noted that wives of lead workers were less likely to become pregnant, and if they did were more prone to miscarrying." "A survey of animal data indicates that paternal (father) exposure to environmental toxins - ranging from recreation drugs to industrial chemicals - apparently contribute to problems ranging from fetal loss and stillbirth to diminished aptitude for learning to perform tasks such as running a maze." |
Harvard Health Letter October, 1992 |
| Other Points from the Harvard Health Letter:
Men who work in aircraft industry or handle paints or chemical solvents have higher risk of producing children with brain tumors. "Father exposure to paints linked to childhood Leukemias." Firemen appear to produce an unusually high number of abnormal sperm and be less fertile than other males. (This is believed to be due to the toxic smoke formed when carpets, furniture and paints are burned - of which today are made from synthetic/plastic based compounds. Burning plastic at low temperatures creates high levels of the highly toxic compound DIOXIN). |
(page 6 of above reference)
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| Miscarriages warn of genetic damage 90% of fetuses with malformations are spontaneously aborted during early pregnancy. 60% of first trimester spontaneous abortions (miscarriages) have chromosome abnormalities. |
Dr. Frank M. Sullivan Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of London Environmental Health Perspectives |
| Little is known on the reproductive dangers of
chemicals Regarding chemicals in the workplace, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Economic Community (EEC) prepared lists of several thousand chemicals produced in amounts of more than 1000 tons per year and many produced at 10,000 tons/year. "Toxicological data of any type exist for a few hundred and reproductive toxicology data exist for probably 100. |
Dr. Frank M. Sullivan Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of London Environmental Health Perspectives |
| Miscarriage increases from chemical
solvents: The major risk chemicals were: perchlorethylene (dry cleaning)..... 4.7 times greater risk trichloroethylene (dry cleaning)..... 3.1 times greater risk paint thinners ............................... 2.1 times greater risk paint strippers ............................... 2.1 times greater risk glycol ethers (found in paints)........ 2.9 times greater risk |
Dr. Gayle C. Windham, Ph.D. Dr. Dennis Shusterman, MD, MPH School of Public Health University of California, Berkely American Journal of Industrial Medicine Vol. 20:241-259, 1991 |
| Further evidence
chemicals damage reproduction Quotes from Dr. Baranski, Institute of Occupation Medicine, Denmark: "Risk of infertility increased in females who reported exposures to textile dyes, dry cleaning chemicals, noise, lead, mercury and cadmium." "There was a significant risk of increased time to conception among women exposed to anti-rust agents, welding, plastic manufacturing, lead, mercury, cadmium, or anesthetic agents." "There was also an increased risk of delay to conception following male exposure to textile dyes, plastic manufacturing, and welding. Those who unpacked or handled antibiotics had a significant association with delayed pregnancy of at least 12 months."
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Dr. Boguslaw Baranski Institute of Occupational Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark Conference on the Impact of the Environment and Reproductive Health held in Denmark, September 4, 1991 Environmental Health Perspectives |
| Biological reasons for infertility:
Tubal Factors.............................. 36% Ovulatory Disorders ..................... 33% Endometriosis.......................... ..... 6% No known Cause......................... 40% |
Dr. David Lindsay Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Lancet, June 18, 1994 |
| Chromosome abnormalities occur in 26% of human oocytes (eggs) and 10% of sperm.
|
(above reference) |
| "Recurrent miscarriage is associated with parental
chromosome abnormalities, antiphospholipid antibodies and uterine cavity abnormalities.
Premature ovarian failure (inability of ovaries to produce eggs) may be genetically
determined or associated with autoimmune disease."
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Dr. David Lindsay Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Lancet, June 18, 1994 |
| Jobs working around
chemicals increase risk of stillbirth, preterm delivery and small birth
weight in a study of 2,096 mothers and 3,170 fathers Women working in rubber, plastics or synthetics industry had an 80% greater chance of stillbirth. Father employment in the textile industry (chemical dyes, plastics, formaldehyde, etc.) resulted in their wives having a 90% greater risk of stillbirth. Exposure of the father to the chemicals polyvinyl alcohol and benzene (found in gasoline, cleaning solvents, adhesives and oil based paints) was associated with a 50% increase in preterm delivery. |
Study funded by the March of Dimes Drs. David A. Savitz, Elizabeth A. Whelan and Robert C. Kleckner School of Public Health, University of NC American Journal of Epidemiology |
| Chemicals found to
mimic human estrogens A proper balance of natural estrogens in the body is essential for reproductive success. However, reports have been suggesting that environmental estrogens (chemicals which "mimic" our natural estrogens) are creating infertility problems by confusing the body's estrogen receptors. Some pesticides have already been shown to be environmental estrogens. New research shows that more chemicals are being found to be environmental estrogens including the food additives butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) Other chemicals found to be somewhat estrogenic include, PVC plastics. |
Dr. Susan Jobling, Tracey Reynolds, Roger
White, Malcolm G. Parker, and John Sumpter Department of Biology
and Biochemistry Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology Environmental Health Perspectives |