Systematic review of the association between oil and natural gas extraction processes and human reproduction

Abstract

This systematic review identified 45 original published research articles related to oil and gas extraction activities and human reproductive endpoints. Reproductive outcomes were categorized as [1] birth outcomes associated with maternal exposure, [2] semen quality, fertility, and birth outcomes associated with adult paternal exposure, [3] reproductive cancers, and [4] disruption of human sex steroid hormone receptors. The results indicate there is moderate evidence for an increased risk of preterm birth, miscarriage, birth defects, decreased semen quality, and prostate cancer. The quality of the evidence is low and/or inadequate for stillbirth, sex ratio, and birth outcomes associated with paternal exposure, and testicular cancer, female reproductive tract cancers, and breast cancer, and the evidence is inconsistent for an increased risk of low birth weight; therefore, no conclusions can be drawn for these health effects. There is ample evidence for disruption of the estrogen, androgen, and progesterone receptors by oil and gas chemicals, which provides a mechanistic rationale for how exposure to oil and gas activities may increase the health risks we have outlined. The results from this systematic review suggest there is a negative impact on human reproduction from exposure to oil and gas activities. Many of the 45 studies reviewed identified potential human health effects. Most of these studies focused on conventional oil and gas activities. Few studies have been conducted to evaluate the impact of unconventional oil and gas operations on human health. The impact of unconventional oil and gas activities may be greater than that of conventional activity, given that unconventional activities employ many of the same approaches and use dozens of known endocrine-disrupting chemicals in hydraulic fracturing.

Drilling and Production Activity Related to Unconventional Gas Development and Severity of Preterm Birth

“…However, several potential mechanisms have been proposed. Endocrine disruption is a possible mechanism through which many UGD-related contaminants may affect preterm birth ( Balise et al. 2016 ; Elliott et al.…”

The diagnosis of male infertility: an analysis of the evidence to support the development of global WHO guidance—challenges and future research opportunities

“…As it was necessary to undergo a global prioritization method to identify answerable PICO questions, there inevitably are a number of questions in the diagnosis of male infertility not addressed by the WHO ESG and thus absent from this manuscript. For example, the effect of paternal age, alcohol and environment on male fertility (those interested can consult for example: Age— Eisenberg & Meldrum, 2017 ; Nybo-Andersen and Urjoj, 2017 ; Johnson et al , 2015 ; Ramasamy et al , 2015 ; Alcohol— Karmon et al , 2017 ; Jensen et al , 2014 ; Oil and natural gas extraction— Balise et al , 2016 ; Bisphenol A— Mínguez-Alarcón et al 2016 ; Outdoor air pollution— Lafuente et al , 2016 ).…”

Sex ratio and maternal age in a natural fertility, subsistence population: Daughters, sons, daughters

“…A large body of literature has been devoted to exploring a wide variety of maternal exposures that could lead to sex ratio biases in humans (Amalie et al, ; Balise et al, ; Blaffer Hrdy, ; Fukuda, Fukuda, Shimizu, Andersen, & Byskov, ; James & Grech, ; Koshy, Delpisheh, Brabin, Attia, & Brabin, ; Navara, ; Safe, ; Scialli et al, ; Terrell, Hartnett, & Marcus, ; Williams & Gloster, ; Williams, Lawson, & Lloyd, ). Articles vary from those that focus on the effects of specific socio‐ecological exposures (Amalie et al, ; Balise et al, ; Safe, ; Scialli et al, ; Terrell et al, ), to those that examine the biological mechanisms that mediate their effects (Navara, , ), to those that investigate the evolution of the links between exposures and outcomes (Myers, ; Sieff et al, ). Within this last category, the Trivers and Willard hypothesis () stands out as particularly useful for understanding sex ratio in several mammalian species, including humans (also see, Myers (1978) and Williams (1979)).…”