Petrelli G, Mantovani A, Menditto A
Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma.
Ann Ist Super Sanita. 1999;35(2):137-43.
Environmental pollution is a great cause of concern, in particular, growing attention is being paid to the potential of many chemicals to affect the reproductive system in humans. The key role of prevention and control of reproductive hazards is recognized world-wide. Many chemicals have been shown to impair fertility and/or prenatal and perinatal development in experimental studies. However, a sufficient evidence of an effect on human reproduction is available for some compounds only. The use of biological markers may improve the assessment of exposure to chemicals, contribute to identify mechanisms of action and put into evidence early, reversible, biological effects. Valid biological markers are also needed in epidemiological studies: without reliable data on the level of current and past exposures it is difficult to establish a causal relationship between a pollutant and the occurrence of adverse health effects. A multidisciplinary approach to risk assessment is required. Priorities for interdisciplinary research on environmental chemicals and reproduction include the identification of susceptible population subgroups and risk assessment of exposure to multiple chemicals.
环境污染是一个备受关注的重大问题，尤其是人们越来越关注许多化学物质对人类生殖系统产生影响的可能性。预防和控制生殖危害的关键作用在全球范围内得到认可。在实验研究中，许多化学物质已被证明会损害生育能力和/或产前及围产期发育。然而，只有部分化合物有足够的证据表明其对人类生殖有影响。使用生物标志物可能会改善对化学物质暴露的评估，有助于确定作用机制，并尽早发现可逆的生物效应。流行病学研究也需要有效的生物标志物：如果没有关于当前和过去暴露水平的可靠数据，就很难确定污染物与不良健康影响发生之间的因果关系。需要采用多学科方法进行风险评估。环境化学物质与生殖的跨学科研究重点包括确定易感人群亚组以及对多种化学物质暴露的风险评估。
