Toxic responses of the reproductive system

In interviews with pregnant women, the effects of paints, varnishes and solvents were evaluated. No effects were found concerning congenital heart disease of infants with Down Syndrome (trisomie 21). The maternal risk was associated with smoking. 

Maternal toluene sniffing used as an organic solvent in acrylic paints, varnishes and other sources is associated with premature births and, in one case, renal tubular acidosis. Other studies of female painters showed tendencies towards an increase of spontaneous abortions or infant mortality. Other studies did not confirm these tendencies. 

McDowall reported an increase in malformations in children (polydactyly, syndactyly, spina bifida and anencephalus) whose parents were painters, assemblers or had related occupations. A study by Olson showed congenital malformations of the central nervous system for paternal exposure to paints. 

Contradictory effects of solvents in paints on the kidneys have been described. Lauwerys et ah, for example, have described some solvents used in paints as nephrotoxic (e.g., toluene). Minor effects such as slight hematuria and albuminuria or small effects on the glomeruli or even no effects were detected in other studies.  

In some studies of spray painters in the automobile and airplane industries and of house painters mortality from liver cirrhosis was increased. Another study investigating house painters, however, did not show an increase.  

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Thomas, J. A. (1996). Toxic responses of the reproductive system. In Casarett and Doull s Toxicology The Basic Science of Poisons (C. D. Klaassen, Ed.), pp. 547-581. McGraw-Hill, New York. 

Dixon RL. 1980. Toxic responses of the reproductive system. In Doull J, Klaassen CD, Amdur MO.eds. Toxicology The basic science of poisons. New York, NY Macmillan Publlishing Co., Inc., 332- 354. 

Thomas MJ, Thomas JA. Toxic responses of the reproductive system. In Klaassen CD, ed. Cassarett and DouII s Toxicology, The Basic Science of Toxicology. 6th ed. New York McGraw Hill, 2001. 

Hazard evaluation is used here to mean examination and evaluation of the hazards (adverse effects) observed in toxicity studies, including reproductive, teratogenic, and general toxicity studies plus other pertinent data. Because of the complexities of the reproductive system as well as embryogenesis and maturation of the conceptus, hazard evaluations must go beyond the mere determination of statistical effects, no observed effect levels (NOELS), relationships between dose and response, dose and effects, and the determination of margins of safety. Most... 

Dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs induce a broad spectrum of toxic responses, such as loss of body mass, hepatotox-icity, immunotoxicity, epidermal changes, embryotoxicity and carcinogenicity. In addition, they can act as endocrine disrupters, thereby mimicking or interfering with the action of endogenous hormones and other molecules of the endocrine system. Besides their interference with the reproductive system, there are indications of their role in thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism and function. The toxic and biological effects of these PHAHs depend on several factors, such as doses, route of administration, species, age, strain and sex of the animals (Safe, 1986). 

Phrases such as strong suspicion and impaired fertility are not quantitatively defined, leaving the definitions open to interpretation. Is impaired fertility a decline in sperm motility (e.g., 200 ppm), or a complete lack of reproduction (750 ppm) Should this even be relevant if the exposure concentrations are no higher than 20 ppm Also, note the requirement that the impaired fertility should be in the absence of other toxic effects, but what does the rest of the sentence mean Lawyers have interpreted it to mean that the impaired fertility must be a direct effect on the reproductive system, not a secondary response to another primary effect. For example, an effect on the adrenal glands to increase the secretion of epinephrine may be a primary effect, but this has a secondary effect of increasing the heart rate. 

The database for HFC-134a is extensive it contains studies with both human subjects and animal models. Potentially sensitive populations, including patients with COPD and adult and pediatric asthmatic patients, were tested with direct inhalation of HFC-134a from metered-dose inhalers. The response of these groups was no different than that of healthy adults. The animal studies covered acute, subchronic, and chronic exposure durations and addressed systemic toxicity as well as neurotoxicity, reproductive and developmental effects, cardiac sensitization, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. The metabolism of HFC-134a is well understood, and the relationship of exposure con... 

Alkaloids are active bioagents in animal tissues. There is clear scientific evidence of this. Crawford and Kocan" " have tested the toxicity of steroidal alkaloids from the potato Solanum tuberosum), such as a-chaconine, a-solanine, solanidine and solasodine, and Veratrum alkaloid, jervine on fish. The results of Crawford and Kocan s research proved that rainbow trout exhibited a toxic response to chaconine, solasidine and solanine, while medaka only did so to chaconine and solanine. Embryo mortality was observed as an effect of toxicity in both species. Many other alkaloids are known to disturb or cause disorder in animal reproductive systems. For example, gossypol from cotton-seed oil is known as a clear reducer of spermatogenesis and premature abortion of the embryo. 

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