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1432320 
Journal Article 
Survey of reproductive outcomes in uranium and potash mine workers: results of first analysis 
Wiese, WH; Skipper, BJ 
1986 
Yes 
Annals of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
ISSN: 0882-4274 
14 
187-192 
English 
A study of reproductive outcomes in uranium (7440611) miners was conducted to assess the reproductive risk associated with exposure to radon (10043922) and radon daughters during underground uranium mining. The cohort consisted of 491 males employed at three uranium mines in New Mexico. The comparisons consisted of 226 males employed at a potash (584087) mine in New Mexico. The subjects completed a questionnaire providing information on their personal mining history, marriage history, and pregnancy outcome history. The data were analyzed to determine the incidence of low birth weight, spontaneous abortions, congenital malformations, nontraumatic infant death, infertility, and the effect on sex ratio. Mean birth weights of infants born to uranium miners who started work after 1970 were significantly lower than before they started working underground. This effect was not seen in workers who started work before 1970. The mean birth weights of infants born to potash miners increased slightly relative to infants conceived before starting work underground. The male/female ratio in offspring born to both uranium and potash miners decreased after starting underground work. The decrease was greater in the potash workers. A larger proportion of the potash workers reported periods of infertility than the uranium miners. The rate of spontaneous abortions increased nonsignificantly in uranium miners who started work before 1970. The number of changes in the other reproductive parameters was too small to be analyzed. The authors conclude that the study results do not provide a consistent pattern to support the notion that uranium mining in New Mexico over the past 10 to 20 years is associated with reproductive hazards. The observed effect on birth weight requires further investigation. 
DCN-186334; Epidemiology; Sexual reproduction; Uranium miners; Radon daughters; Occupational exposure; Questionnaires; Risk analysis; Body weight; Radiation exposure