A report published by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) and the Strategic Alliance for International Chemicals Management (SAICM) shows the impacts of chemicals on women, gender aspects of chemical exposure, and recommendation steps.
Although chemicals impacted both men and women, the impact differs. The difference due to differences in men’s and women’s hormonal systems. The division of labor both in the society and the industry also another cause of the differences.
Women are exposed to chemicals mainly in three ways: first, women workers who make the products in factories that use chemicals. Second, women in general during the use of products that contain chemicals. And third, women who disassemble and manage the waste.
The Report also wrote that men are also exposed to chemicals. However, women’s traditional role as cleaners and responsible for waste have made the exposure more intensified in women. Long term exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals could have a detrimental effect on women’s reproductive health and pregnancy.
Download the Report here.
