The impact of harmful industrial factors on the reproductive health of female workers in the energy industry

Introduction. In the Russian Federation, there is a decrease in the reproductive potential of women, including those involved in the industrial sector. The solution to this problem is possible through the development and implementation of preventive strategies to preserve women's reproductive potential.

The study aims to assess the impact of industrial factors on the reproductive system of women who work in contact with chemicals, taking into account their professional background and reproductive status.

Materials and methods. The authors analyzed data from periodic medical examinations of 1,738 female workers in electrical and thermal networks (chemical analysis laboratory assistants, n=384; boiler room typists, n=569; chemical water treatment apparatchiks, n=785). They also conducted a comparative analysis of the prevalence of diseases of the reproductive system, a ROC analysis of the age of menopause, and a multifactorial logistic regression analysis.

Results. The researchers registered a statistically significant earlier onset of menopause in female laboratory assistants of chemical analysis (the threshold age is 46 years) compared to boiler room machinists (52 years old) and chemical water treatment technicians (50 years old). In the subgroup of women 50 years and older, laboratory assistants were more likely to have uterine leiomyoma (41.8% vs. 22.5%, p<0.001) and benign breast dysplasia (22.7% vs. 11.1%, p=0.006) compared with boiler room typists. The binary logistic regression method revealed that the risk of developing benign breast dysplasia in laboratory assistants increases by 7.9% with age, and exposure to hydrazine and its derivatives and inorganic chlorine compounds increases it by 3.7 and 2.03 times, respectively (p<0.001).

Limitations. Lack of direct laboratory measurements of hormonal status and chemical exposure measurements.

Conclusions. Exposure to chemical production factors (hydrazine and its derivatives, inorganic chlorine compounds) is associated with an increased incidence of proliferative diseases of the reproductive system in chemical analysis technicians. To clarify the mechanisms of the identified disorders and improve the effectiveness of preventive measures, further research is needed to find and validate specific biomarkers of earlier reproductive aging in workers who come into contact with chemicals.

Ethics. The study was conducted in accordance with the Ethical principles set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association of the latest revision. The study was approved by the conclusion of the local Ethics Committee of the Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health (minutes of the meeting No. 1 dated January 23, 2025).

Contributions:
Kislyakova A.A. — research design, conducting research, statistical data processing, writing and editing the text;
Anokhin N.N. — research design, conducting research, writing and editing the text;
Kuzmina L.P. — text editing;
Zenkov A.A. — data collection and processing, writing the text.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 04.06.2026 / Accepted: 11.06.2026 / Published: 11.08.2026

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