Subfertility in relation to welding. A case referent study among male welders

A recent report indicates that welding work is associated with increased risk of reduced semen quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible association between welding exposure and male subfertility. A cross-sectional population of 673 metal workers and electricians employed at six major Danish work places in the same geographic area constituted the study population. Data on reproductive and occupational experience was obtained by means of a self-administered postal questionnaire. The response rate was 79 percent among welders and 83 percent among the other workers. A significantly increased rate of delayed conception in relation to welding work at the time of this event was observed when self-reported welding exposure among cases of delayed conception was compared to welding exposure both among age-matched referents and among referents with a child born without delay in conception. However, in the first approach the risk dropped to insignificant levels when adjustments were made for potential confounding factors. This preliminary study has methodological drawbacks, and the association between welding exposure and male fertility should be investigated further.