Primary infertility in nuclear industry employees: report from the nuclear industry family study

Abstract

Objective-To determine whether men and women who are occupationally exposed to ionising radiation are at increased risk of primary infertility. Methods-A cross sectional analysis of reproductive outcome was reported in an occupational cohort of nuclear industry workers from the Atomic Energy Authority, Atomic Weapons Establishment, and British Nuclear Fuels in the United Kingdom. Data on employment and radiation monitoring supplied by employers were linked to data obtained from self administered questionnaires sent to all current employees and a sample of past workers. A total of 5353 men and 603 women aged 40 years or more at the time of survey whose first pregnancy, or attempt at pregnancy, had occurred after first employment in the nuclear industry were recruited to the study. Primary infertility was defined as consultation with a doctor about the failure to achieve at least one viable (24 weeks gestational age or more) pregnancy. Results-2.6% Of men and 3.7% of women reported primary infertility. For men, this proportion did not diVer by amount of radiation monitored or by dose received. The prevalence of infertility was higher among monitored women than nonmonitored women, but not significantly so and the numbers were too small to draw any firm conclusions. Conclusions-No support was found for a hypothesis linking exposure to low level ionising radiation among men with primary infertility. There was weak evidence of an association in women, but the relatively few monitored women prevented detailed examination of these data. (Occup Environ Med 2001;58:535-539)

Science linking environmental contaminant exposures with fertility and reproductive health impacts in the adult female

“…Additional environmental exposures, including bis-phenol A, solvents, radiation, and other compounds (59)(60)(61)(62)(63)(64)(65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76) have also been associated with decrements in female fertility, but the literature is limited or inconclusive. In particular, studies of solvent exposure in a variety of settings (70,71,75) suggest decreases in fertility.…”

Male gonadal dose of ionizing radiation delivered during X-ray examinations and monthly probability of pregnancy: a population-based retrospective study

“…Only a few studies [ 9 - 11 ] have examined the effect of male exposure to ionizing radiation on the probability of pregnancy or on the occurrence of involuntary infertility. In a cohort of employees from the Nuclear Industry Family, Doyle et al [ 9 ] did not find any association between male occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and primary infertility. Primary infertility was defined as a medical consultation for difficulties in achieving a recognized pregnancy after attempts for six months or more for couples still childless at the age of 40 years.…”

Prolonged time to pregnancy in residents exposed to ionising radiation in cobalt-60-contaminated buildings

“…There is concern about a possible link between radiation exposure and low fertility, but evidence is currently limited. A large UK occupational cohort study of nuclear workers did not find an association between male exposure to low-dose radiation at work and primary infertility 15. In addition, no association was found between cumulative exposure to diagnostic radiation and prolonged time to pregnancy (TTP) in a cross-sectional study of French men 16.…”

“…In addition, no association was found between cumulative exposure to diagnostic radiation and prolonged time to pregnancy (TTP) in a cross-sectional study of French men 16. For females, the UK study of nuclear workers did not find that female preconceptional exposure to low-dose radiation was related to primary infertility, but there was a weak association when infertility was defined as no pregnancies reaching ≥24 weeks gestational age 15. A cohort study from Canada did not reveal any evidence that diagnostic radiation in females during early adulthood increased the risk of infertility 3.…”