Reproductive Health and the Environment

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XXXI

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2. Introduction: Environmental Impact On Reproductive Health, Recent Trends And Developments

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-19

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   2. Introduction: Environmental Impact On Reproductive Health, Recent Trends And Developments

      • P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati, N.J. Lelos

      Pages 1-19

3. The Link Between Reproductive Health and Environment

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 21-71

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   2. Epidemiological Studies On The Relationship Between Semen Quality And Environmental Chemicals: Historic And Contemporary Compounds

      • R. Hauser, J.D. Meeker

      Pages 23-56

   3. Environment And Fertility

      • P. Saldiva

      Pages 57-71

4. Reproductive Health Effects

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 73-158

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   2. Male Reproductive Status and Its Relationship With Man-Made, Hormone-Disrupting Substances: Studies in Flanders, Belgium

      • W. Dhooge, F. Eertmans, A. Mahmoud, F. Comhaire

      Pages 75-94

   3. Potential Impact of The Environment on The Male Reproductive Function: The Example of Cryptorchidism

      • E. Huyghe, R. Mieusset, P.F Thonneau

      Pages 95-118

   4. Advanced Glycation End Products in Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

      • E. Diamanti-Kandarakis, C. Piperi, P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati

      Pages 119-140

   5. Oocytes and Ovarian Follicles As Targets Of Endocrine Disrupters: Consequences For Reproductive Health

      • F. Gandolfi, T.A.L. Brevini, F. Cillo

      Pages 141-158

5. Pollutants and Exposure

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 159-224

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   2. Non-Pesticide Endocrine Disrupters And Reproductive Health

      • S. Corsolini

      Pages 161-186

   3. Medical Drugs Impairing Fertility

      • N. Pandiyan

      Pages 187-205

   4. Impact Of Air Pollution On Reproductive Health In Northern Bohemia

      • J. Rubes, S.G. Selevan, R.J. Sram, D.P. Evenson, S.D. Perreault

      Pages 207-224

6. Policy Instruments and Issues

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 225-334

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   2. Pesticides As Endocrine Disrupters: Identification Of Hazards For Female Reproductive Function

      • M. Rescia, A. Mantovani

      Pages 227-248

   3. Assessment Of Fertility And Other Health Impacts For Selected Pollutants In Flanders: Opportunities And Limitations

      • J. De Wit, A. Verspecht, L. Hens

      Pages 249-281

   4. Problems In Assessing Low Dose Effects Of Endocrine Disrupters

      • A. Gies

      Pages 283-296

   5. Getting The Message Across – WWF’S and ISDE’s Perspectives on Communication Strategies to Reduce Exposures to Hazardous Chemicals

      • G. LyonS, P. Illig

      Pages 297-310

The scope of environmental impact on reproduction is very large. It aims at covering all aspects of reproductive problems and their links to the environment. Therefore, it deals with female and male reproductive impairments, whatever their severity and their sites, gonad or extra-gonad. For women, effects include direct lesions of the oocyte, with possibilities of chromosomal abnormalities but also malformations of the reproductive tract. Reduced fertility and in some cases total infertility may also result from menstrual irregularities, which can at times include anovulatory cycles. Hormonal changes, even in the absence of menstrual irregularities may also lead to decreased fertility. In addition to congenital malformations, other impairments of the reproductive apparatus may occur, as in the polycystic ovarian syndrome or in endometriosis. Finally one can also include effects during pregnancy leading to spontaneous abortion, preterm delivery still birth or altered sex ratio. Impacts on age at menarche and age at menopause lead to a change in the duration of reproductive life.

• Assessment
• Endocrine Disrupters
• Environment
• Fertility
• Reproductive Health
• ethics
• pesticide

• Medical School, Department of Pathology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

  P. Nicolopoulou-Stamati

• Human Ecology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

  L. Hens

• Bioimaging Research Group, Centre for Molecular Biosciences, University of Ulster, United Kingdom

  C.V. Howard

Policies and ethics