Toxic agents’ effects on women a worry

Press, 25 August 1986, Page 30

Toxic agents’ effects on women a worry

NZPA-AP Geneva Exposure to toxic substances in the workplace may be responsible for miscarriages, birth defects, and infertility, says the World Health Organisation.

“The large number of (chemical, physical and biological) agents in use and the lack of knowledge about their effects on reproductive functions is of universal concern,” said a W.H.O. press release.

It said guidelines were needed for monitoring changes in the reproductive functions of workers exposed to occupational hazards as well as measures to limit the exposure.

The increasing number of working women has intensified concern about workplace risks to pregnant women and their offspring, it said. “This concern has pro-

gressed to include factors that influence fertility and impaired reproduction in men,” it said, adding that 10 to 20 per cent of all couples have difficulty conceiving, but few clinical studies have examined the possible effect of the workplace on fertility. It also said there is evidence that workplace exposure of parents is related to the development of cancer in their children before the age of 15.

“In many cases of death due to childhood cancer, the father was employed in a petrol-re-lated occupation,” while exposure by pregnant mothers to chemicals such as paint or petroleum, products “was associated significantly with leukaemia,” it said. The press release listed tha following as occupaticflis where an increased risk of pregnancy compli-

cations have been found, although it cautioned that further study was needed to be more certain of causes and effects:

Agricultural workers: Increased impotence has been found among men working with pesticides and herbicides. Anaesthetists: Women working in anaesthesia have shown an increase in miscarriage, and an increase in congenital malformations has been seen in offspring of either men or women working, in anaesthesia.

Laboratory workers: An increased rate of miscarriages has been found among women employed in chemical laboratories in the pharmaceutical industry compared with women employed in nonchemical laboratories.

Painters and laundry workers, because of ttsir exposure to solvents.