On "Scents and Sensitivity".

Regarding the continuing debate in EHP over the question ofwhether or not human sperm densities have declined in the United States, I feel compelled to respond to the statement by Swan et al. (1) that regional variation would not be inconsistent with the average decline that we demonstrated in Europe and the United States. In referring to regional variation in sperm densities, Swan et al. cite the work ofFisch et al. (2) as indicating that sperm counts have not declined in the United States. In this study, sperm counts were analyzed in Los Angeles, California; Roseville, Minnesota; and New York, New York. A study by MacLeod and Wang (3) indicates that sperm counts have remained constant in New York since 1938. In addition, two other published studies report that sperm counts have not dedined in Wisconsin (4) or in Seattle, Washington (5). There is not a single study ofhealthy men from any fertility center or sperm bank that has reported a decline in sperm counts in the United States. The regional variation in sperm counts, with a nearly twofold difference in average sperm counts between Los Angeles and New York, invalidates any study that attempts to demonstrate a twofold decline in sperm counts based on trends over time in reporting of sperm counts from different regions of the United States (6). Despite the assertion of Swan et al. (7) that the data are robust, there can be no valid demonstration of a twofold decline in sperm counts in the United States when normal sperm counts vary nearly as much between Los Angeles and New York. Male fertility potential in terms of semen quality: a review of the past, a study of the present Fertil Steril 31:103-116 (1979). 4. Wittmaack FM, Shapiro SS. Longitudinal study of semen quality in Wisconsin men over one decade. greater Seattle area reveals no downward trend in semen quality: further evidence that deterioration of semen quality is not geographically uniform. Fertil I was delighted to learn of the informative article, "Scents and Sensitivity" [EHP 106:A594-A599 (1998)]. I would like to see this issue get the major media coverage it warrants. Being extremely sensitive to fragrances, I have been seeking accommodation for over two years in the large office where I work. I was recently granted a private office space (without a door) and the firm purchased an air cleaner (HEPA with carbon pre-filter) for my use. …

In referring to regional variation in sperm densities, Swan et al. cite the work ofFisch et al. (2) as indicating that sperm counts have not declined in the United States. In this study, sperm counts were analyzed in Los Angeles, California; Roseville, Minnesota; and New York, New York. A study by MacLeod and Wang (3) indicates that sperm counts have remained constant in New York since 1938. In addition, two other published studies report that sperm counts have not dedined in Wisconsin (4) or in Seattle, Washington (5). There is not a single study ofhealthy men from any fertility center or sperm bank that has reported a decline in sperm counts in the United States.
The regional variation in sperm counts, with a nearly twofold difference in average sperm counts between Los Angeles and New York, invalidates any study that attempts to demonstrate a twofold decline in sperm counts based on trends over time in reporting of sperm counts from different regions of the United States (6).
Despite the assertion of Swan  On "Scents and Sensitivity" I was delighted to learn of the informative article, "Scents and Sensitivity" [EHP 106:A594-A599 (1998)]. I would like to see this issue get the major media coverage it warrants.
Being extremely sensitive to fragrances, I have been seeking accommodation for over two years in the large office where I work. I was recently granted a private office space (without a door) and the firm purchased an air cleaner (HEPA with carbon pre-filter) for my use.
My employers' bottom line is that they are unwilling to request people to forego use of personal scented products in the office. I, however, am unwilling to wear a face mask all day in a work environment that would not, by nature of the work being done here, require anyone to wear a mask.
If a government agency were to publidy recognize that there is a health risk to some people from chemically based fragrances, offices such as the one where I work would be able to restrict use of scented personal products. The health of people such as myself would be greatly benefited and no one would be injured by the omission.

Peggy Davis
Atlanta, Georgia Chiorpyrifos (Dursban) and Dow Employees Papers published in EHP concerning adverse effects of pesticide exposure have helped protect the public's health. These include the study by Guillette et al. (1) concerning learning impairment in young children exposed to pesticides; the birth defects-pesticides study by Garry et al. (2; brain tumors in pesticide-exposed children were negative for gene mutation, 3 were positive for DNA damage, 1 was positive for aneuploidy, and 2 were positive for micronucleus disruption (9). Genetic damage was seen in applicators ofpesticdes (10).

Gibson et al. (5) daim that chloripyrifos
is not teratogenic and does not adversely affect reproduction. In November 1996, under Section 6(a)(2) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), DowElanco itself reported 12 adverse reproductive effects to the EPA as a part of its late adverse reaction reports. A year later, Dow reported a thirteenth human case and adverse reproductive outcome in a breeder dog (11). The material safety data sheet for Dursban TC (12) states, Fetotoxicity and fetal development abnormalities were observed in a chronic ingestion study of pregnant mice, but the same dose produced severe maternal toxicity.
Chlorpyrifos, the pesticidal agent in Dursban, is both a chlorinated and organophosphate chemical, with toxicity characteristics of each class of chemicals. The product Dursban is a complex mixture, containing sulfotepp and trichloropyridinol (TCP) in addition to chlorpyrifos. TCP is used to manufacture chlorpyrifos, is found in the commercial product, is the metabolic breakdown product, and has been reported to be teratogenic at doses that are nontoxic to the mother (13,14).
Goldsmith et al. (15) reported birth defect cases in Israel. These pesticide exposures included Dursban, and were also reported directly to the U.S. EPA (16). Still Dow has been reluctant to accept the concept that exposure to a chlorinated organophosphate chemical designed to kill insects by interfering with neurological function could harm the developing There actually were eight children with birth defects who had been exposed in utero to Dursban (15)). Discussing the findings, Gibson et al. (5) daimed lack of "consistency of symptoms among the children." Actually, the findings are not symptoms, but actual defects, and there is a strong pattern, calculated at odds of 1045 for the first four children (20). Tabulation of eight children demonstrates a consistent pattern (see Table 1). In keeping with standard scientific methodology, other causes of birth defects have been explored (see Table 2).