Male infertility among bakers associated with exposure to high environmental temperature at the workplace

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of male infertility among bakers exposed to high environmental temperature. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted to obtain information using a validated questionnaire administered through an interview. The mean wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) index in the bakeries was measured. A new statistical formula was used to estimate the prevalence of infertility among bakers. RESULTS: A total of 137 bakers working in 20 bakeries and 107 individuals included in the comparable control group with variations in age, race, marital status, and income and with history of cigarette smoking were recruited. Using a newly devised formula, the prevalence of infertility among the exposed group was 22.7%, compared with 3.0% in the control group (p = 0.013). All possible confounding factors associated with infertility among bakers were excluded such as cigarette smoking, age, and race. There were unfavorable hot working conditions in bakeries, with a WBGT index of 37.4 °C, while the average WBGT for offices was 25.5 °C (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the rate of infertility among bakers was high, which resulted from exposure to high environmental temperature at the workplace as evidenced by the WBGT index. This finding should alert the healthcare authorities to take necessary measures under the labor code to curtail infertility among bakers.