Common solvents threaten fertility
Common solvents threaten fertility
Men regularly exposed to chemicals found in paint and other common products may be more prone to fertility problems, UK research as indicated. Men such as painters and decorators, who work with a family of solvents called glycol ethers, are two-and-a-half times more likely to produce fewer 'normal' sperm. The findings reinforce warnings issued in 1983 by the US authorities about reproductive hazards to both male and female workers from occupational exposure to certain glycol ethers. The chemicals have remained in common industrial usage since this time. The new study looked at 2,118 men attending 14 fertility clinics in 11 cities across the UK. The joint research project between the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield, which was part funded by the Health and Safety Executive, looked at two groups of men attending fertility clinics - those with sperm motility problems, and those without them. The men were questioned about their jobs, lifestyles, and potential exposure to chemicals, revealing greatly reduced sperm motility among those exposed to glycol ethers. These chemicals are widely used as solvents in water-based paints, graffiti removers and other commonly available products. Dr Andy Povey, from the University of Manchester, said: 'We know that certain glycol ethers can affect male fertility and the use of these has reduced over the past two decades. However, our work suggests they are still a workplace hazard and further work is needed to reduce such exposure.' The researchers, whose findings were published online in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, concluded that, apart from glycol ethers, there are currently few workplace chemical threats to male fertility.
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