Farm residence and reproductive health among boys in rural South Africa

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated reproductive health effects of contemporary agricultural pesticides in boys. OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between pesticide exposure and reproductive health of boys. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study in rural South Africa of boys living on and off farms. The study included a questionnaire (demographics, general and reproductive health, phyto-estrogen intake, residential history, pesticide exposures, exposures during pregnancy); and a physical examination that included sexual maturity development ratings; testicular volume; height, weight, body mass index; and sex hormone concentrations. RESULTS: Among the 269 boys recruited into the study, 177 (65.8%) were categorized as farm (high pesticide exposures) and 98 (34.2%) as non-farm residents (lower pesticide exposures). Median ages of the two groups were 11.3 vs 12.0 years, respectively (