Investigation of associations between exposures to pesticides and testosterone levels in Thai farmers

Parinya Panuwet, Chandresh Ladva, Dana Boyd Barr, Tippawan Prapamontol, John D. Meeker, Priya Esilda D'Souza, Héctor Maldonado, P. Barry Ryan, Mark G. Robson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship between pesticide exposures and testosterone levels in 133 male Thai farmers. Urine and serum samples were collected concurrently from participants. Urine was analyzed for levels of specific and nonspecific metabolites of organophosphates (OPs), pyrethroids, select herbicides, and fungicides. Serum was analyzed for total and free testosterone. Linear regression analyses revealed significant negative relationships between total testosterone and the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) after controlling for covariates (eg, age, BMI, smoking status). Positive significant associations were found between some OP pesticides and total testosterone. Due to the small sample size and the observational nature of the study, future investigation is needed to confirm our results and to elucidate the biological mechanisms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)205-218
Number of pages14
JournalArchives of Environmental and Occupational Health
Volume73
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 4 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Toxicology
  • Environmental Science(all)
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Keywords

  • Endocrine disruptor
  • exposures
  • farmers
  • pesticides
  • reproductive health
  • testosterone

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