Determinants of spermatogenesis recovery among workers exposed to 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane

The purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of spermatogenesis recovery among 30 azoospermic and 17 oligospermic workers who had a maximum of 18 months of exposure to 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane during 1976 to 1977. A maximum of 11 years of follow-up data were examined. Of the 26 azoospermic subjects who voluntarily participated in follow-up, 19 (73.0%) showed evidence of spermatogenesis recovery. Thirteen azoospermic subjects recovered to normospermic levels; however, their mean most recent sperm count (44.4 million/mL) was significantly lower (P less than .01) than the mean (88.8 million/mL) of the 17 oligospermic subjects who recovered to normospermic levels. The lack of spermatogenesis recovery was definitively shown to be job (drumming and canning) and, possibly, age related. Duration of exposure and the initial 1977 categorization of exposure (high, moderate, and low) were not predictive of recovery. Testicular atrophy was observed with azoospermia, and the testicles subsequently increased in size among those azoospermic subjects who returned to normospermic levels. The follicle-stimulating hormone level in 1977 was significantly associated with azoospermia as well as the likelihood of return to normospermia among the azoospermic subjects.