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Semen Study of Papaya Workers Exposed to Ethylene Dibromide.

PB86221447

Publication Date	1984
Personal Author	Ratcliffe, J. M.; Schrader, S. M.; Steenland, K.; Clapp, D.; Turner, T.
Page Count	58
Abstract	A cross sectional semen and cytogenetic study was performed on male workers exposed to ethylene-dibromide (106934) (EDB) in the papaya fumigation industry in Hawaii. Semen analyses were conducted on 46 men in six fumigation facilities with an average length of employment of 5 years and airborne exposures to EDB ranging from 16 to 213 parts per billion. Statistically significant decreases in sperm count per ejaculate and the percentage of viable and motile sperm and increases in the proportion of specific morphological abnormalities were observed among exposed men when compared with controls. Semen volume and sperm concentration were also lower in the exposed group. No effect of exposure to EDB on sperm velocity, the overall proportion of sperm with normal morphology or YFF bodies was noted. The authors conclude that based on the decreases in sperm count, viability and motility and increases in certain types of morphological abnormalities among workers exposed to EDB, EDB may increase the risk of reproductive impairment in workers at exposure levels near the NIOSH recommended limit of 45 parts per billion and far below the current OSHA standard of 20 parts per million.
Keywords	Environmental surveys Industrial medicine Exposure Toxicity Inspection Hazardous materials Genetics Fumigants Males Concentration(Composition) Toxic substances Occupational safety and health Indoor air pollution Ethylene dibromide Reproductive-hazards Ethylene/dibromo
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 57Y - Toxicology 94D - Job Environment 68G - Environmental Health & Safety 68A - Air Pollution & Control
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	198621

Semen Study of Papaya Workers Exposed to Ethylene Dibromide.

Semen Study of Papaya Workers Exposed to Ethylene Dibromide.
PB86221447

Publication Date	1984
Personal Author	Ratcliffe, J. M.; Schrader, S. M.; Steenland, K.; Clapp, D.; Turner, T.
Page Count	58
Abstract	A cross sectional semen and cytogenetic study was performed on male workers exposed to ethylene-dibromide (106934) (EDB) in the papaya fumigation industry in Hawaii. Semen analyses were conducted on 46 men in six fumigation facilities with an average length of employment of 5 years and airborne exposures to EDB ranging from 16 to 213 parts per billion. Statistically significant decreases in sperm count per ejaculate and the percentage of viable and motile sperm and increases in the proportion of specific morphological abnormalities were observed among exposed men when compared with controls. Semen volume and sperm concentration were also lower in the exposed group. No effect of exposure to EDB on sperm velocity, the overall proportion of sperm with normal morphology or YFF bodies was noted. The authors conclude that based on the decreases in sperm count, viability and motility and increases in certain types of morphological abnormalities among workers exposed to EDB, EDB may increase the risk of reproductive impairment in workers at exposure levels near the NIOSH recommended limit of 45 parts per billion and far below the current OSHA standard of 20 parts per million.
Keywords	Environmental surveys Industrial medicine Exposure Toxicity Inspection Hazardous materials Genetics Fumigants Males Concentration(Composition) Toxic substances Occupational safety and health Indoor air pollution Ethylene dibromide Reproductive-hazards Ethylene/dibromo
Source Agency	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NTIS Subject Category	57U - Public Health & Industrial Medicine 57Y - Toxicology 94D - Job Environment 68G - Environmental Health & Safety 68A - Air Pollution & Control
Corporate Authors	National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	198621