Increased Miscarriage Rate in Female Farmers Working in Saffron Fields: A Possible Effect of Saffron Toxicity

There is much debate about effects of medicinal plants such as saffron (Crocus sativus) on human health. Women are highly involved in farming and processing of this plant. This study is aimed at evaluating the saffron impacts on miscarriage rate of female farmers working in saffron fields. This was a prospective case-control study on pregnant female farmers during harvesting season of saffron in December 2005 to evaluate miscarriage rate among them. All pregnant women who were between the first and twentieth week of gestation and were participated in saffron harvesting and processing in previous years were studied. The subjects were divided into two age and gestational age-matched groups of cases and controls. The cases were prohibited from working in saffron fields and in return they were paid same as the average amount of their monthly income. They were trained not have any exposure to saffron and a team supervised them on their adherence during the study period. Nevertheless, they were free for working in other careers. On the other hand, the controls were allowed for working in the fields and processing saffron. Forty-one subjects were included in case group and 38 subjects in control group. Median age of all subjects was 25 years. The groups were not significantly different from each other according to history of miscarriage and 2nd occupation. Four subjects experienced miscarriage that all of them belonged to control group having contact to saffron. None of cases had miscarriage. Using Fisher''s exact test, it was found that miscarriage rate was significantly higher (10.6% vs. 0%, P = 0.03) among female farmers who had saffron exposure. Exposure to saffron may increase the risk of miscarriage. Hence, it is suggested that pregnant women avoid contact with considerable amounts of saffron especially for female farmers working in saffron fields.