TIME TO PREGNANCY AND OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO PESTICIDES IS FRUIT GROWERS IN THE NETHERLANDS

Objectives-Although pesticides are regularly used in agriculture, rela tively little is known about possible adverse health effects, especial ly reproductive effects, due to occupational exposure. This explorativ e study investigates the relation between exposure of the fruit grower to pesticides and fecundability (probability of pregnancy) in a popul ation of fruit growers. Methods-The analysis is based on self reported data and includes 91 pregnancies during 1978-1990 of 43 couples. Cox' proportional hazards model was used to analyse time to pregnancy afte r correction for gravidity and consultation with a physician for ferti lity problems. Results and conclusions-Application of pesticides solel y by the owner was associated with a long time to pregnancy, resulting in a fecundability ratio of 0.46 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0. 28-0.77). Similarly a low spraying velocity (less than or equal to 1.5 hectares/h) resulted in a fecundability ratio of 0.47 (95% CI 0.29-0. 76) and is associated with the use of older spraying techniques and tr actors without a cabin. These factors were assumed to cause high expos ure, which was confirmed by exposure measurements in the field. The ef fect of high exposure was mainly apparent if the couple had intended t o become pregnant in the period from March-November (fecundability rat io 0.42, 95% CI 0.20- 0.92). This is the period in which pesticides ar e applied. Out of the spraying season the effect of a high exposure wa s absent (fecundability ratio 0.82, 95% CI 0.33-2.02). In the high exp osure group 28% of the pregnancies had been preceded by consulting a p hysician because of fertility problems, compared with 8% in the low ex posure group. These findings indicate that an adverse effect of exposu re to pesticides on fecundability is likely.