Clark Kendra L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Olson Center for Women's Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.
Department of Environmental, Agricultural, and Occupational Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States.
Front Public Health. 2025 Aug 13;13:1628858. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1628858. eCollection 2025.
Women have played a vital role in the U.S. military for decades, with their presence steadily increasing. However, despite this growth, research on the unique occupational and environmental exposures they face remains limited, highlighting the need for greater understanding to improve reproductive health outcomes. Chemical exposures such as burn pit emissions, airborne particulates, heavy metals, and pesticides can disrupt hormone regulation and pose risks for fertility, miscarriage, preterm birth, and congenital anomalies. Additional risks include unsafe water sources, contaminated soil, increased vaccinations, and extreme environmental conditions. However, studies on these exposures remain inconsistent, with some indicating significant reproductive risks while others show minimal or no impact. This mini review highlights what is currently known about the impact of military-related environmental and occupational exposures on women's reproductive health and identifies key gaps in the literature. Further research is essential to determine high-risk exposures, guide policy development, and support early intervention strategies. Addressing the long-term impact of military-related environmental exposures is crucial for ensuring better health outcomes and facilitating access to care for female service members and veterans.
几十年来，女性在美国军队中发挥了至关重要的作用，她们的人数在稳步增加。然而，尽管有这种增长，但对她们所面临的独特职业和环境暴露的研究仍然有限，这凸显了为改善生殖健康结果而加强了解的必要性。诸如燃烧坑排放物、空气中的颗粒物、重金属和农药等化学暴露会扰乱激素调节，并对生育能力、流产、早产和先天性异常构成风险。其他风险包括不安全的水源、受污染的土壤、增加的疫苗接种以及极端环境条件。然而，关于这些暴露的研究结果仍然不一致，一些研究表明存在重大生殖风险，而另一些研究则显示影响极小或没有影响。本综述强调了目前已知的与军事相关的环境和职业暴露对女性生殖健康的影响，并指出了文献中的关键空白。进一步的研究对于确定高风险暴露、指导政策制定以及支持早期干预策略至关重要。解决与军事相关的环境暴露的长期影响对于确保更好的健康结果以及为女性军人和退伍军人提供医疗服务至关重要。
