Male Fertility Effects of Glycol Ethers: A Quantitative Analysis

摘要

The effects on male fertility from reductions of sperm counts as a result of exposure to the glycol ethers 2-ethoxyethanol (110805) (EE) and 2-methoxyethanol (109864) (ME) were investigated, using data from two recent studies. The first was a study of Oregon foundry workers, and the second involved a group of shipyard painters. The average EE exposures for the Oregon foundry workers were in the range of 9 to 14 parts per million (ppm). A suggestive decline in sperm count was noted for the exposed group as a whole, but the difference was not statistically significant. The painter group was exposed to considerably lower levels of EE and in addition had appreciable exposure to ME. The sperm counts of the exposed painters were lower, but, again, not significantly so. These studies reinforce each other, suggesting that these exposures caused a reduction in sperm count. Problems with different terminology in studies such as these were briefly discussed and suggestions were offered for further research.