Impact of working conditions at a gas-processing enterprise on reproductive health: results of clinical observation and experimental study

• Published in: Gigiena i sanitarija no. 5; p. 51
• Main Authors: Fateeva, T A, Stadnikov, A A, Delov, V S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russia (Federation) 01.09.2002
• Subjects: Animals; Chemical Industry; Environmental Pollution - adverse effects; Female; Fossil Fuels; Humans; Pregnancy; Rats; Reproductive Medicine; Work
• ISSN: 0016-9900

Five-year clinical and statistical studies were made to examine the effects of hydrogen sulfide-containing natural gas and its condensate on reproductive health in 275 female workers at the Orenburg gas-processing enterprise and on reproductive function in 80 female albino rats in the experimental setting. A combined exposure to the components and processing products of hydrogen sulfide-containing natural gas and its condensate of the gas-processing enterprise in the concentrations not greater than the maximum allowable ones for each substance individually was found to adversely affect female reproductive health, as manifested by pathological changes in infertility-complicated ovarian and menstrual functions, by a high incidence of complications during pregnancy and at labor; by anomalies in neonatal physical development and health. Experiments confirmed that a combined exposure to the components of hydrogen sulfide-containing natural gas and its condensate caused morphological disadaptive changes in the ovaries, impairments in the fetoplacental barrier, anomalies in the postnatal development of the offspring of experimental animals.