EFFECTS OF PESTICIDE EXPOSURE ON MALE FERTILITY OF FLOWER GROWERS IN VILLA GUERRERO, STATE OF MEXICO: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Pesticide exposure can have long-term effects on human health and the environment. Flower growers are particularly at risk of reproductive health issues and problems with semen quality due to pesticides1-2. Numerous studies have shown that pesticides can signicantly impact male reproductive function and semen quality3-4. Therefore, environmental exposure to pesticides can harm male fertility. Objective: Assess the effects of pesticide exposure on the fertility of ower growers. Material and Method: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study, comparing 30 ower growers exposed to pesticides with a control group of 30 students from the medical school at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, who had similar sociodemographic characteristics. We evaluated the WHO seminal parameters and pesticide exposure as the main variables. Statistical analysis: The mean was utilized to measure central tendency, and the standard deviation was used to measure dispersion in descriptive statistics. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between the variables, with a signicance level of p > 0.05. Results: Exposure to pesticides can lead to changes in sperm quality among ower growers, affecting concentration, mobility, and morphology. Post sperm capacitation, the exposed group showed lower sperm concentration than the non-exposed group. Conclusions: Raising awareness about the potential risks associated with increased ower production and the resulting higher pesticide use is crucial, especially in the community of Villa Guerrero. More than 80% of the population in this community is involved in oriculture and uses pesticides year-round without proper protective equipment. Further research is needed to comprehend these pesticides' impact on male fertility fully2-4. By informing the community about these potential risks, individuals can take preventive measures and learn to use pesticides safely and responsibly.5