Abstract
Objectives: Radiation-induced cytogenetic damage in somatic cells has raised concern that low-dose ionising radiation can also damage germ cells and influence gamete production and/or function, resulting in decreased fertility. Time to pregnancy (TTP) was used to investigate whether exposure to γ-radiation affected fertility among the residents of cobalt-60- contaminated buildings in Taiwan. Methods: This was a retrospective pregnancy-based study of 357 pregnancies born to 124 exposed couples. Both the cumulative dose and the dose rate for each pregnancy was estimated based on a physical dose reconstruction programme. The comparison population consisted of 612 pregnancies born to 225 couples randomly sampled from the Taiwan general population. Information on TTP was collected by personal interviews. Fecundability ratios (FRs) were calculated with a discrete proportional hazards model. Results: For exposed mothers, fertility decreased significantly when unprotected intercourse began during the period of living in the radiation-contaminated buildings (FR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.92). The effect was borderline significant for fathers (FR 0.83, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.02). There was evidence that prolonged TTP was associated with the rate of exposure for both mothers and fathers (tests for trend: female, p=0.0006; male, p=0.03), especially evident for dose rates ≥10 mSv/year (female, FR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.84; male, FR 0.68, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.96). Conclusions Our findings suggest that exposure to low-dose ionising radiation of cobalt-60-contaminated buildings may decrease fertility, especially in females. Fertility declined with increasing concurrent dose but not with cumulative dose.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 187-195 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
| Volume | 67 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2010 |
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Keywords
- cobalt 60
- pregnancy
- ionizing radiation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
Prolonged time to pregnancy in residents exposed to ionising radiation in cobalt-60-contaminated buildings. / Lin, C. M.; Chang, Wu-Shou; Doyle, P.; Wang, J. D.; Lee, L. T.; Lee, C. L.; Chen, Pau Chung.
In: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Vol. 67, No. 3, 03.2010, p. 187-195.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Prolonged time to pregnancy in residents exposed to ionising radiation in cobalt-60-contaminated buildings
AU - Lin, C. M.
AU - Chang, Wu-Shou
AU - Doyle, P.
AU - Wang, J. D.
AU - Lee, L. T.
AU - Lee, C. L.
AU - Chen, Pau Chung
PY - 2010/3
Y1 - 2010/3
N2 - Objectives: Radiation-induced cytogenetic damage in somatic cells has raised concern that low-dose ionising radiation can also damage germ cells and influence gamete production and/or function, resulting in decreased fertility. Time to pregnancy (TTP) was used to investigate whether exposure to γ-radiation affected fertility among the residents of cobalt-60- contaminated buildings in Taiwan. Methods: This was a retrospective pregnancy-based study of 357 pregnancies born to 124 exposed couples. Both the cumulative dose and the dose rate for each pregnancy was estimated based on a physical dose reconstruction programme. The comparison population consisted of 612 pregnancies born to 225 couples randomly sampled from the Taiwan general population. Information on TTP was collected by personal interviews. Fecundability ratios (FRs) were calculated with a discrete proportional hazards model. Results: For exposed mothers, fertility decreased significantly when unprotected intercourse began during the period of living in the radiation-contaminated buildings (FR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.92). The effect was borderline significant for fathers (FR 0.83, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.02). There was evidence that prolonged TTP was associated with the rate of exposure for both mothers and fathers (tests for trend: female, p=0.0006; male, p=0.03), especially evident for dose rates ≥10 mSv/year (female, FR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.84; male, FR 0.68, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.96). Conclusions Our findings suggest that exposure to low-dose ionising radiation of cobalt-60-contaminated buildings may decrease fertility, especially in females. Fertility declined with increasing concurrent dose but not with cumulative dose.
AB - Objectives: Radiation-induced cytogenetic damage in somatic cells has raised concern that low-dose ionising radiation can also damage germ cells and influence gamete production and/or function, resulting in decreased fertility. Time to pregnancy (TTP) was used to investigate whether exposure to γ-radiation affected fertility among the residents of cobalt-60- contaminated buildings in Taiwan. Methods: This was a retrospective pregnancy-based study of 357 pregnancies born to 124 exposed couples. Both the cumulative dose and the dose rate for each pregnancy was estimated based on a physical dose reconstruction programme. The comparison population consisted of 612 pregnancies born to 225 couples randomly sampled from the Taiwan general population. Information on TTP was collected by personal interviews. Fecundability ratios (FRs) were calculated with a discrete proportional hazards model. Results: For exposed mothers, fertility decreased significantly when unprotected intercourse began during the period of living in the radiation-contaminated buildings (FR 0.75, 95% CI 0.61 to 0.92). The effect was borderline significant for fathers (FR 0.83, 95% CI 0.68 to 1.02). There was evidence that prolonged TTP was associated with the rate of exposure for both mothers and fathers (tests for trend: female, p=0.0006; male, p=0.03), especially evident for dose rates ≥10 mSv/year (female, FR 0.60, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.84; male, FR 0.68, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.96). Conclusions Our findings suggest that exposure to low-dose ionising radiation of cobalt-60-contaminated buildings may decrease fertility, especially in females. Fertility declined with increasing concurrent dose but not with cumulative dose.
KW - cobalt 60
KW - pregnancy
KW - ionizing radiation
KW - cobalt 60
KW - pregnancy
KW - ionizing radiation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77949405311&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77949405311&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/oem.2008.045260
DO - 10.1136/oem.2008.045260
M3 - Article
C2 - 19773284
AN - SCOPUS:77949405311
VL - 67
SP - 187
EP - 195
JO - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
JF - Occupational and Environmental Medicine
SN - 1351-0711
IS - 3
ER -