Men regularly exposed to the chemicals found in paint may be at heightened risk of infertility, according to recent research.
Men working with glycol-based paints were found to be two-and-a-half times more likely to produce fewer "normal" sperm.
The researchers obtained data from a sample of 2,000 men attending 14 fertility clinics in the UK. Their findings are published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Sperm motility - the amount of movement of individual sperm - is an important factor in overall fertility. There had been fears that exposure to a wide variety of workplace chemicals might affect a man's ability to father a child.
The joint research project between the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield looked at two groups of men attending fertility clinics - those with sperm motility problems, and those without them.
The men were questioned about their jobs, lifestyles, and potential exposure to chemicals, revealing a 250% increase in risk of sperm motility problems among those exposed to glycol ethers.
The risk posed by glycol-ethers was present even when other factors such as smoking, wearing tight underwear and testicular surgery were taken into account.
Dr Andy Povey, from the University of Manchester, said: "We know that certain glycol ethers can affect male fertility and the use of these has reduced over the past two decades.
"However, our work suggests they are still a workplace hazard and further work is needed to reduce such exposure."
However, this was the only chemical linked to fertility problems in men, and Dr Allan Pacey, a fertility specialist from Sheffield University, said that this would ease mens' worries.
"Infertile men are often concerned about whether chemicals they are exposed to in the workplace are harming their fertility.
"Therefore it is reassuring to know that on the whole, the risk seems to be quite low."
Men working with glycol-based paints were found to be two-and-a-half times more likely to produce fewer "normal" sperm.
The researchers obtained data from a sample of 2,000 men attending 14 fertility clinics in the UK. Their findings are published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Sperm motility - the amount of movement of individual sperm - is an important factor in overall fertility. There had been fears that exposure to a wide variety of workplace chemicals might affect a man's ability to father a child.
The joint research project between the Universities of Manchester and Sheffield looked at two groups of men attending fertility clinics - those with sperm motility problems, and those without them.
The men were questioned about their jobs, lifestyles, and potential exposure to chemicals, revealing a 250% increase in risk of sperm motility problems among those exposed to glycol ethers.
The risk posed by glycol-ethers was present even when other factors such as smoking, wearing tight underwear and testicular surgery were taken into account.
Dr Andy Povey, from the University of Manchester, said: "We know that certain glycol ethers can affect male fertility and the use of these has reduced over the past two decades.
"However, our work suggests they are still a workplace hazard and further work is needed to reduce such exposure."
However, this was the only chemical linked to fertility problems in men, and Dr Allan Pacey, a fertility specialist from Sheffield University, said that this would ease mens' worries.
"Infertile men are often concerned about whether chemicals they are exposed to in the workplace are harming their fertility.
"Therefore it is reassuring to know that on the whole, the risk seems to be quite low."
