Effects of pesticide exposure on reproductivity of male groundnut farmers in Kyauk Kan village, Nyaung-U, Mandalay region, Myanmar

INTRODUCTION: Kyauk Kan village of Nyaung-U, Mandalay region, Myanmar is one of the most famous groundnut-growing zones and has been exposed to pesticides. METHODS: This study design provided evaluation of within-person changes in the season across growing and nongrowing periods. A cross-sectional study was performed to identify health problems related to organophosphate pesticide (OP) exposure, to explore the protected use of this pesticide among 400 participants in the community by face-to-face interviews, and to determine the reproductive effects of OP exposure by using biomarkers of 100 male groundnut farmers aged 18–49 years. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 37.5±9.45 years. Analysis revealed statistically significant differences in seminal parameters (P<0.05 for pH, viscosity, motility, morphology, and sperm count) and in a reproductive hormonal assay (P<0.05 in follicle-stimulating hormone and testosterone) between the growing and nongrowing periods. Blood-cholinesterase levels of plasma cholinesterase in the growing period were significantly higher than those in the nongrowing period (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that chronic exposure related to OP dose may reduce potential male reproductivity.