Organopesticides and fertility: where does the link lead to?

Abstract

Organopesticides (OPs) are a group of various synthetic chemicals prevalently used in agriculture and homestead plantations. OPs were originally developed to remove insects, weeds, and other pests from agricultural fields for improving crop yields. Modern pesticides including organochlorine pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides, and amido-formyl ester are closely related to our lives. Many people are exposed to various OPs during farming practice. OPs can cause adverse effects and provoke serious impacts on normal reproductive functions of humans, resulting in loss of fertility. The effects of OPs in the reproductive system include association with fluctuation in the levels of sex hormones, delayed menstrual cycle, ovarian dysfunction, alteration in ovary weight, changes of follicle growth, altered oocyte feasibility, and changed the quality of spermatogenesis. Current literature clearly states that exposure to various OPs can impair the fertility of women and cause a high risk of reproductive potential. However, investigations on OPs exposure to woman fertility remain scarce. This review highlights effects of exposure to OPs on the fertility of occupational women and mechanisms of action involved in such effects on the reproductive function of women along with their related impacts.

Keywords: Fertility disorder; Organopesticides;; Pesticide exposure;; Reproductive potency;; Toxic agents;.