OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS AND SELF-REPORTED INFERTILITY AMONG NURSES AND PHARMACISTS

Although infertility has been identified as an effect of chemotherapy for some cancer patients, the association of infertility with occupati onal exposure has not been investigated. This case-control study inves tigated the relationship of infertility with occupational handling of chemotherapy drugs by nurses and pharmacy personnel. Data were gathere d by questionnaire from 4659 staff at facilities participating in the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project collaborative clin ical trials network of the National Cancer Institute. The 405 subjects reporting infertility were each matched by sex and age with three con trol subjects and compared for history of chemotherapeutic drug handli ng. Results for the total sample and for women showed a significantly elevated odds ratio (OR = 1.5; CI = 1.1 to 2.0) for self-reported infe rtility associated with occupational handling of chemotherapeutic drug s prior to onset of infertility. For men, the odds ratio was similar b ut not statistically significant. This worker population, with a mean age of 37 is in the prime of reproductive life. Prevention of chemothe rapy side effects by use of available protection is preferable to risk ing infertility.