TESTICULAR FUNCTION IN DBCP EXPOSED PESTICIDE WORKERS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 21  (3) , 161-166
Abstract
In mid-1977 a number of cases of infertility among male pesticide workers in California, USA, were discussed. A larger clinical-epidemiological study was undertaken to understand the exposure-effect relationships involved. Of 142 non-vasectomized men providing semen samples, 107 were exposed to the nematocide 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP) and 35 were not exposed. There was a clear-cut difference in the distribution of sperm counts and the median counts between the exposed men and the not-exposed men. Of the exposed 13.1% were azoospermic, 16.8% were severely oligospermic and 15.8% were mildly oligospermic. Among the controls, 2.9% were azoospermic, none were severely oligospermic and 5.7% were mildly oligospermic. Under workplace conditions, DBCP apparently has a selective effect on the seminiferous tubules.

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