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Epidemiologic Studies of Reproductive Health in Male Workers

남성 근로자의 생식보건 역학연구

  • Choi, Byeong Ju (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Lee, Sanggil (Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Kim, Seonggyu (Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center) ;
  • Sung, Jungmin (Central Area Epidemiologic Investigation Team, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency) ;
  • Ye, Shinhee (Central Area Epidemiologic Investigation Team, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency)
  • 최병주 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 이상길 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원) ;
  • 김성규 (계명대학교 동산병원) ;
  • 성정민 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 중부권역학조사팀) ;
  • 예신희 (한국산업안전보건공단 산업안전보건연구원 중부권역학조사팀)
  • Received : 2021.06.16
  • Accepted : 2021.09.10
  • Published : 2021.09.30

Abstract

Objectives: The reproductive health of female workers has been extensively investigated in South Korea and other countries worldwide. However, few studies have discussed the reproductive health of male workers. In this study, we reviewed the recent literature that reports on the effects of occupational exposure on the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. Methods: In May 2020 we used the PubMed search engine to search the literature over the last 10 years and chose case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies and reviews. We selected epidemiological studies that investigated the association between pre-pregnant occupational exposure and the reproductive health of male workers and the health of their children. We excluded case reports, non-epidemiological studies (animal experiments, cellular-level experiments, and similar articles), and studies that described postnatal occupational exposure. Results: We eventually selected 23 studies. The studies that included exclusively male workers reported that those employed in the agricultural sector or those exposed to pesticides showed lower blood levels of reproductive hormones and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers exposed to complex organic solvents and organic compounds showed a high risk of poor semen quality, increased time to pregnancy, decreased blood levels of reproductive hormones, and a high risk of lympho-hematopoietic system cancer in their children. Male workers employed in occupations that involved significant social contact, or in the leather and livestock industries, and in occupations with high levels of exposure to lead and organic solvents showed a high risk of malignancies, including lympho-hematopoietic system cancer, neuroblastoma, and central nervous system tumors in their children. Studies that investigated both male and female workers reported that children of male smelters showed a high risk of premature birth, and children of male workers exposed to metals showed a high risk of hypospadias and cryptorchidism. Children of male welders and workers employed in the glass, ceramic, and tile industries showed a high risk of premature birth. Conclusion: The findings of this study will serve as basic data for further research on male workers' reproductive health and provide a scientific basis for the development of strategies to protect the reproductive health of males employed in high-risk occupations. Moreover, the results of this study may provide guidelines to improve the understanding of and knowledge on male workers' reproductive health.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 산업안전보건연구원의 집단 역학조사인 근로자 생식보건 역학적 연구 체계 구축 연구로 수행된 자료이며, 함께 참여하여 도움을 주신 분들께 진심으로 감사드립니다.

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