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Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers |
Low Sperm Count, Quality in Rural Areas Tied to Herbicides, Pesticides |
University of Missouri-Columbia Researcher Calling for Water Testing, Safer
Alternatives |
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA, Jun. 17 -/E-Wire/Business Wire/--
Following an earlier study that found that men in rural mid-Missouri had lower sperm counts and quality than their peers in urban centers, a University of Missouri-Columbia researcher has identified and linked three agricultural chemicals to the problem.
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In November 2002, Shanna Swan, a professor of family and community medicine at the university, announced findings suggesting that fertile men in more rural areas have lower sperm counts and less vigorous sperm than men in urban areas. Through her most recent study, published today in the online edition of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), Swan confirmed that men with lower sperm counts and quality had higher concentrations of alachlor, diazinon, and atrazine metabolites in their urine than men with higher-quality sperm. These three chemicals are commonly used in agriculture operations throughout the Midwest.
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Swan's study compared pesticide exposure in two groups: men with low sperm concentration and quality, and men with better semen quality. Although men were drawn from both mid-Missouri (a mostly rural area) and Minneapolis, Minnesota (a highly urban setting), links between pesticides and semen quality were detected only in Missouri men. Swan obtained urine samples from both groups and tested them for 15 currently used pesticides. Samples from Missouri men with poor semen quality contained significantly higher concentrations of alachlor, atrazine, and diazinon metabolites than samples from men with higher-quality sperm. For example, men with high levels of alachlor were 30 times more likely to have poor semen quality than men with low levels. Swan found no correlation between semen quality and pesticides used primarily in the home, such as DEET.
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"This is the first study that shows a link between elevated levels of these pesticides in the human body and potential reproductive problems," Swan said. "Since our subjects include a cross-section of men in mid-Missouri, rather than mostly farmers, the pesticide levels we found probably represent the exposure of the general population."
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According to a 1995 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey, these pesticides were found in groundwater supplies in rural areas in the Midwest at concentrations exceeding federal reporting levels. In addition, the agency stated that conventional water treatment is ineffective in removing herbicides such as alachlor and atrazine from finished drinking water. Unlike many other contaminants, those herbicides remain in the water following conventional treatment processes such as coagulation and sand filtration.
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"We think it is likely that men are ingesting these chemicals through their drinking water," Swan said. "Some water filters do claim to rid the system of these chemicals. We need to analyze men's home tap water and examine alternative water treatment methods to determine levels of these chemicals currently in the water supply and to find effective ways to remove them."
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Swan also said that although researchers should examine the water supply and seek methods of removing the pesticides, safer alternatives to these chemicals need to be found. Because women and children are likely to be exposed to these pesticides as well, additional studies examining the impact of these pesticides on the health of the entire family are needed, Swan said.
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EHP is the journal of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. More information is available online at http://www.ehponline.org/.
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Editor's note: A full copy of the report is available by fax or e-mail (PDF format) to media at no charge. Go to http://www.ehponline.org/press/, call 919-653-2585, or e-mail adams6@niehs.nih.gov.
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/SOURCE:
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University of Missouri-Columbia |
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06-17-2003 |
/CONTACT:
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Brogan & Partners, Brandon Adams, 919/653-2585 or University of Missouri-Columbia, Christian Basi, 573/882-4430, Cell: 573/228-0886, BasiC@missouri.edu, Matt McGowan, 573/882-6217, McGowanDM@missouri.edu |
| /WEB SITE: |
http://http://www.ehponline.org/press
http://http://www.ehponline.org
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