Women and Chemicals

Where are women exposed to chemicals?
are irreversible and last for generations. UNEP has identified
ASGM sector as the single largest source of mercury emissions
from intentional use, which has no global target reduction (emissions
and use) under the treaty. The target for mercury elimination
will depend on a country‘s policy and implementation plans.
Women in Africa represent approximately 40-50 per cent of the
ASGM workforce and children under the age of 18 may constitute
up to 30-50 per cent of the entire ASGM workforce. 65 While
women represent lower fractions of the workforce in Latin America
(10-20 per cent) and Asia (about 10 per cent), it is clear that
mercury exposure from ASGM has a profound global impact on
women. In many ASGM areas, women perform the most toxic
jobs since they do not require strength. These jobs include pouring
the mercury into the ball-mills or mixing the mercury in panning,
and burning the amalgam – usually while their children or
babies are nearby. In some countries, women also carry the rocks
from the mining sites to the processing plants. 66
Biomonitoring results from many ASGM countries show
alarming concentrations of mercury in hair, urine and blood of
children, women and men. There is a rapidly growing body of
knowledge in this area, which has also revealed some symptoms
similar to Minamata disease and its adverse effects. Damage to
the developing brain is of particular concern. ASGM is most often
considered a result of local socio-economic and development
problems but over the years it has become a global challenge.
The global demand for gold continues to be a driving force for
more investment into ASGM, typically in isolated regions and impoverished
communities. Mercury used in ASGM translates into
increases in mercury exposure to women and children. In addition,
global emissions of mercury will increase as more mercury
is used in the ASGM sector, impacting the environment and food
chain. The immediate economic investment in ASGM should
take into account the health and environmental impacts in
ASGM communities.
Women as mothers
One of the most significant roles of women is the one of being a
mother. Women are the first environment for their children, and
therefore they have a risk of exposing their uborns, who are highly
susceptible to chemicals. Therefore their exposure is very critical
and should be avoided. Women also often change their behaviour
and values with becoming a mother, which translates
into a higher consumer awareness and openness to environmental
topics, such as chemicals in products.
Pregnant women
Research shows that the placenta does not provide a defense
against harmful chemicals, as previously thought. 67 Persistent
and bio-accumulative chemicals remain in the human body
long after exposure and can be passed from mother to baby,
in utero and via breast milk. It can also cross the blood brain
barrier to affect a child’s central nervous system and its development.
Children exposed to chemicals like EDCs, even at
very low levels are more likely to develop health problems
later in life such as cancer, infertility, or diabetes, particularly
with exposure during certain windows of prenatal development.
68 EDCs can also cause multigenerational harm. A prominent
example for this is diethylstilbestrol (DES), a drug given
to pregnant women from the 1940s to 1970s. Studies show
that many DES-victim daughters (grandchildren of the DES
users) experience infertility and cancer in their reproductive
organs and breasts. Animal studies show that the granddaughters
of women who took DES are also at risk for ovarian
and uterine cancers. Infact, prenatal development is one of
the most susceptible stages to health risks caused by chemical
exposure. 69
39