Cryptorchidism and hypospadias in the Sicilian district of Ragusa and the use of pesticides

The aim of the study was to explore the role of environmental exposures to pesticides in the birth prevalence of hypospadias and cryptorchidism, in the 12 agricultural municipalities of Ragusa Sicily. Data on the birth prevalence of the two birth defects were obtained from the local pediatric services for the period 1998–2002. Municipalities were ranked according to the degree of “pesticide impact” on the basis of three quantitative criteria of intensity of agricultural activities of the population. We found a significantly higher birth prevalence of hypospadias with increasing “pesticide impact” (trend test, P = 0.003). The association with cryptorchidism was not statistically significant, but when the two birth defects were pooled together, the linear trend was significant (trend test, P = 0.001).