Authors
Peretz-J; Gallicchio-L; Miller-S; Greene-T; Zacur-H; Flaws-JA
Source
Reprod Toxicol 2009 Nov; 28(3):359-364
Abstract
Although chemicals used in hair salons have been linked to infertility in animal models, little is known about whether exposures in hair salons are associated with infertility in women. Thus, a survey-based study was performed to investigate infertility in 448 cosmetologists and 508 non-cosmetologists working in Baltimore, Maryland and its surrounding counties. Infertility was assessed with questions addressing time-to-pregnancy (TTP) length (>or=12 months), consulting a medical professional about fertility problems, and taking medication to become or maintain a pregnancy. Occupational exposure was assessed by job tasks and customers served per week. There were no statistically significant associations between working as a cosmetologist and the odds of TTP>or=12 months, consulting a medical professional about infertility, or taking medication to either become or maintain a pregnancy. The data suggest that cosmetologists are not at increased risk for infertility compared to women of the same age working in other occupations.
Keywords
Age-factors; Analytical-chemistry; Analytical-methods; Chemical-hypersensitivity; Chemical-reactions; Cosmetic-workers; Exposure-levels; Exposure-methods; Health-hazards; Occupational-exposure; Pregnancy; Prenatal-exposure; Reproduction; Risk-factors; Statistical-analysis; Women; Work-environment; Worker-health; Workplace-studies;
Author Keywords: Infertility; Cosmetologist; Hairdresser; Environmental exposure; Chemical exposure; Time-to-pregnancy; Pregnancy; Reproductive outcomes in salon employees
Contact
Jodi A. Flaws, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln Ave., Room 3223, Urbana, IL 61802, United States
Document Type
Journal Article
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-008579
Source Name
Reproductive Toxicology
Performing Organization
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign