[Exposure to pesticides in greenhouses and male fertility]

We attempt to study fertility problems among workers exposed to pesticides, comparing the reproductive experience of greenhouse workers and administrative staff working in the Health Local Units of the same geographical area (reference population). Data on reproductive history and time to pregnancy (TTP) at first pregnancy were collected by personal interview. For workers with children, we collected data on TTP in relation to the occupational risk factors. The analysis of TTP was conducted among 127 greenhouse and 173 administrative workers married and aged 20-55. The greenhouse workers reported 232 pregnancies and a mean number of 1.8 children; the controls 270 and 1.6 respectively. For greenhouse workers the mean TTP in months (5.4 with SD 5.6) resulted longer than for controls (3.9 with SD 5.6). The risk for conception delay (beyond 3 months) by exposure category of the man adjusted for age of woman, smoking of man and woman at first pregnancy resulted 2.4 higher for a subgroup of greenhouse workers with higher exposition (CI 95% 1.2-5.1).