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Evaluation of reproductive function among men occupationally exposed to a stilbene derivative: II. perceived libido and potency
Author(s) -
Whelan Elizabeth A.,
Grajewski Barbara,
Wild Deanna K.,
Schnorr Teresa M.,
Alderfer Raymond
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199601)29:1<59::aid-ajim8>3.0.co;2-u
Subject(s) - medicine , libido , confidence interval , odds ratio , quartile , occupational medicine , sexual function , hazard ratio , demography , toxicology , gynecology , environmental health , occupational exposure , sociology , biology
This is the second of two reports of a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health Hazard Evaluation conducted in response to complaints of sexual dysfunction among men who manufacture the stilbene derivative 4,4'‐diaminostilbene‐2,2'‐disulfonic acid (DAS; CAS 81‐11‐8), an intermediate in the manufacture of fluorescent whitening agents. The first report [Grajewski et al. (1995): Am J Ind Med 29:53‐61] describes results of the analysis of reproductive hormone levels. This second report provides results from the analysis of perceived libido and potency. In a cross‐sectional design, self‐reported sexual function of 30 male workers who manufacture DAS and 20 former DAS workers was compared to that of 35 workers who manufactured plastics additives in a different manufacturing area. Questionnaire items were examined by factor analysis, reducing the data to these components of sexual function: sexual activity/performance (two factors), interest, satisfaction, and physiologic competence. Adjusting for age, currently exposed workers were more likely than unexposed workers to have a value in the lowest quartile for interest (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5‐7.2), physiologic competence (adjusted OR = 1.9, 95% CI 0.6‐6.4), and activity/performance factor II (adjusted OR = 5.8, 95% CI 1.3‐27.3). Former DAS workers reported problems associated with activity/performance factors I and II compared to unexposed workers (adjusted OR = 2.2, 95% CI 0.5‐10.1 and adjusted OR = 6.7, 95% CI 1.2‐35.9, respectively). Although the small study size limits the precision of the effect estimates, the pattern of results suggests a possible effect on sexual function of working in the DAS manufacturing area. (This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.) © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.