Cryptorchidism and pesticides: Is there a connection?

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

The aim of our study was to compare the level of the most common organophosphate metabolite, dimethyl phosphate, in urine of women giving birth to both boys with cryptorchidism (study group), and healthy boys (control group), as well as to compare the level of dimethyl phosphate in our population with the results obtained in other populations.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

After the ethical approval we included thirty women in both study and control groups. All newborns were born between 38 and 42weeks' gestation. Urine samples were taken on 3rd postpartal day. Gas chromatography with flame photometric detection was used to analyze dimethyl phosphate in urine following the method of Wu et al. Statistical analysis was done using Mann-Whitney test to compare the results in the two groups.

RESULTS:

Geometric mean of dimethyl phosphate in the study group was 7.18±8.26μg/L and the creatinine-corrected level was 5.63±5.95μg/L, and in the control group, the values are 7.98±6.75μg/L and 6.15±7.01μg/L, respectively. There was not a statistically significant difference in levels of dimethyl phosphate between these two groups (p=0.72786). Dimethyl phosphate levels obtained in similar studies are: 14.4μg/L in Israel, 3.7μg/L in Palestine, 10.3μg/L in Jerusalem, 1.60μg/L in Caribbean islands and 2.60μg/L in Canada.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pregnant women in our country are exposed to organophosphate pesticides, but a correlation between the exposure to organophosphate pesticides and cryptorchidism was not found.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

I.

TYPE OF STUDY:

Prognostic study, prospective study.

• Authors: Ivana Fratrić, Jan Varga, Saša Vukmirović, Jan Sudji, Dragana Živković
• Journal: Journal of pediatric surgery (J Pediatr Surg) Vol. 52 Issue 7 Pg. 1166-1168 (Jul 2017) ISSN: 1531-5037 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27956069 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Organophosphates
• Organophosphorus Compounds
• Pesticides
• dimethyl phosphate

Topics

• Adult
• Case-Control Studies
• Cryptorchidism (chemically induced)
• Environmental Exposure (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Male
• Organophosphates (urine)
• Organophosphorus Compounds (urine)
• Parturition
• Pesticides (urine)
• Pregnancy
• Prospective Studies
• Serbia