Infante P F, Tsongas T A
Am J Ind Med. 1983;4(1-2):383-90.
Although some attention has recently been given to the study of occupational reproductive hazards, little is known about measures being taken to prevent exposure to substances having the potential to cause such problems. In the past, OSHA has promulgated a standard to lower the permissible exposure level to a reproductive toxin as the major focus only after experimental evidence was confirmed in humans. The method of selection of appropriate substitutes is also cause for concern. A chemical known to cause testicular atrophy, cancer, and gene mutations in subhuman test systems and to cause sterility in male workers was replaced with a substance known from experimental studies to cause testicular toxicity, cancer of multiple sites, and gene mutations. Experimental test results need to be addressed from the standpoint of determining presumptive risk to humans. A scheme for setting priorities for reduction of exposure or for consideration of regulation of occupational reproductive hazards also needs to be developed. A policy addressing occupational reproductive hazards may serve as a stimulus for protecting workers from these hazards and for improving scientific research protocols.
尽管近来对职业性生殖危害的研究受到了一些关注，但对于为防止接触可能导致此类问题的物质所采取的措施却知之甚少。过去，美国职业安全与健康管理局（OSHA）仅在人体实验证据得到证实时，才将降低对生殖毒素的允许接触水平作为主要关注点来颁布标准。选择合适替代品的方法也令人担忧。一种在非人类实验系统中已知会导致睾丸萎缩、癌症和基因突变且会使男性工人不育的化学物质，被一种从实验研究中已知会导致睾丸毒性、多部位癌症和基因突变的物质所取代。需要从确定对人类的推定风险的角度来处理实验测试结果。还需要制定一个确定降低接触优先级或考虑对职业性生殖危害进行监管的方案。一项针对职业性生殖危害的政策可能会成为保护工人免受这些危害以及改进科研方案的一种激励。
