LIVING NEAR AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS AND THE RISK OF ADVERSE REPRODUCTIVE OUTCOMES: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Background and Aims: Over the last decade, there has been growing concern about the possible health effects, including a number of adverse reproductive outcomes, from pesticides exposure of people living near agricultural fields. This systematic review evaluates the current epidemiological evidence on the association between living near agricultural pesticide applications and adverse reproductive outcomes, including congenital malformations, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), low birthweight, preterm birth and spontaneous abortions. Methods: We identified and reviewed 25 studies from a systematic search of the main scientific databases and other sources published in 1950 to 2007. Study methods and main results were summarised and tabulated according to the year of study, design and type of adverse reproductive outcome. The levels of evidence for reproductive toxicity in humans contributed by each study were assessed and the main limitations associated with these studies discussed. Results...