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Environmental influence on reproductive health
Author(s) -
Bhatt R.V
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(00)00221-6
Subject(s) - environmental health , infertility , environmental pollution , hazardous waste , reproductive health , endocrine system , medicine , pregnancy , population , environmental protection , biology , endocrinology , hormone , geography , ecology , genetics
A rise in industrialization and the consequent environmental pollution, an increase in the use of synthetic chemicals and repeated exposure to hazardous compounds at the workplace and at home adversely affects reproductive health. Biohazardous compounds, some of which act as endocrine disrupters, are being increasingly implicated in infertility, menstrual irregularities, spontaneous abortions, birth defects, endometriosis and breast cancer. In some cases, women are at a greater risk than men, especially with the rise in environmental estrogens. Only a fraction of these chemicals have been adequately examined for toxicity and for synergistic effects due to multiple exposures. There is a need for a greater awareness and vigilance of the effects of environmental pollution on reproductive health.