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Large-scale poisoning occurred in central Taiwan in 1979 from ingestion of cooking oil contaminated by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans. To determine whether in-utero exposure to these chemicals alters reproductive function, all prenatally exposed boys and appropriate controls were contacted for medical examination in 1998. Sperm of exposed children have increased abnormal morphology, reduced motility, and reduced capacity to penetrate hamster oocytes. Whether this will cause reduced fecundity, and how these effects can be extrapolated to the general population exposed to background levels of PCBs and dioxin-like chemicals, warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the number of girls and boys born in Seveso, Italy after an industrial accident in 1976 which left many contaminated with tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). How almost twice as many girls were born in the years following the accident; Questionable effects of TCDD on hormones; Similar studies conducted in Taiwan following a similar industrial accident.