IMPACT OF REAL-LIFE ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURES ON REPRODUCTION: Evidence for reproductive health effects following exposure to hydraulic fracturing chemical mixtures.
Reproduction
; 168(4)2024 Oct 01.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-39074054
ABSTRACT
In Brief Unconventional oil and natural gas (UOG) operations, particularly hydraulic fracturing, have revolutionized oil and gas production, using and containing complex mixtures of chemicals that may impact reproductive health. While there is growing evidence for effects on births in hydraulic fracturing/UOG regions and good mechanistic evidence for potential reproductive toxicity, there is much research still needed to make firm conclusions about these practices and reproductive health. Abstract Unconventional oil and natural gas (UOG) operations have emerged over the last four decades to transform oil and gas production in the United States and globally by unlocking previously inaccessible hydrocarbon deposits. UOG development utilizes many compounds associated with conventional oil and gas, as well as some specific to UOG extraction, particularly during hydraulic fracturing (HF). While research is increasing on UOG chemicals and their mixtures, this review discusses the current evidence for reproductive toxicity following exposures to UOG/HF mixtures. These complex chemical mixtures have been demonstrated to interact with numerous mechanisms known to influence reproductive health. A growing number of environmental and controlled laboratory testing studies have reported adverse reproductive health effects in animals exposed to various UOG chemical mixtures. An expanding body of epidemiological literature has assessed adverse birth outcomes, although none has directly examined reproductive measures such as time to pregnancy, semen quality, and other direct measures of fertility. The existing literature provides moderate evidence for decreased birth weights, increased risk of small for gestational age and/or preterm birth, increased congenital abnormalities, and increased infant mortality, though importantly, studies are widely variable in methods used. Most studies utilized distance from UOG operations as an exposure proxy and did not measure actual chemical exposures experienced by those living near these operations. As such, while there is growing evidence for effects on births in these regions and good mechanistic evidence for potential reproductive toxicity, there is much research still needed to make firm conclusions about UOG development and reproductive health.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Reprodução
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Exposição Ambiental
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Saúde Reprodutiva
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Fraturamento Hidráulico
Limite:
Animals
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Reproduction
Assunto da revista:
MEDICINA REPRODUTIVA
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article