Authors

1Raquel Alarcón Rodríguez, 2María del Mar Requena Mullor, 3Delia Cristóbal Cañadas, 4Tesifón Parrón Carreño

Position

¹Enfermera del Departamento de Neurociencia y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Almería.²Enfermera de la Delegación Provincial de Salud de Almería. Universidad de Almería.³Enfermera. Experta Profesional en Prevención de Riesgos Laborales.⁴Médico. Delegación Provincial de Salud de Almería. Universidad de Almería.

Contact address

C/Carretera de Ronda 13, 4º-2ª. 04004 Almería.

Contact email: raquel.alarcon@andaluciajunta.es

Abstract

There is a social concern in relation to the use of pesticides for the growing of food products and their effect on health. The purpose of this study is to establish the prevalence of cryptorchidism in three different healthcare districts in the province of Almeria with regard to the different levels of exposure to anti-plague chemicals used in crops in each district.
Material and method: 423 cases of cryptorchidism diagnosed in the province of Almeria between 1993 and 2005, compiled from the Spanish hospital Minimal Basic Data Set (MBDS) were studied. Cryptorchidism cases from the three geographical areas were compared taking into account the anti-plague chemicals used in each area.
Results: significant differences were found in the eastern district and the Almeria Centre district, PR (prevalence ratio) 1,48 (CI: 1,2-1,83) and the western district, PR 3,97 (CI:2,97-5,33). Significant is the association between the number of cases of cryptorchidism and the number of hectares (acres) hibernated in the western and central Almeria districts.
Conclusions: it has been observed that the likelihood of suffering from cryptorchidism is greater in males who reside in geographical areas where high levels of anti-plague chemicals are used.

Keywords:

cryptorchidism; anti-plague chemicals; xenoestrogens; occupational exposurepublic health

Versión en Español

Título:

Exposición medioambiental a xenoestrógenos y riesgo de criptorquidias