Women and Chemicals
1ToENNR
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1<br />
Summary 6<br />
5<br />
<strong>Women</strong> as agents of change 46<br />
2<br />
Why focus on women <strong>and</strong> chemicals? 8<br />
<strong>Women</strong>, sustainable development<br />
<strong>and</strong> chemicals 8<br />
Biological determinants 10<br />
Susceptible windows of development 10<br />
Transgenerational effects 10<br />
Gender <strong>and</strong> social determinants 11<br />
Roles <strong>and</strong> tasks of women <strong>and</strong> men 11<br />
Links: discrimination, poverty, education,<br />
public participation <strong>and</strong> access to resources 12<br />
Scientific limitations 14<br />
6<br />
What are the main harmful<br />
substances that women are<br />
exposed to? 49<br />
Existing lists of harmful chemicals 49<br />
<strong>Chemicals</strong> discussed: EDCs, highly hazardous<br />
pesticides, POPs, lead <strong>and</strong> mercury 50<br />
Endocrine Disrupting <strong>Chemicals</strong> (EDCs) 50<br />
Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) 51<br />
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) 51<br />
Heavy metals – lead <strong>and</strong> mercury 52<br />
3<br />
4<br />
<strong>Women</strong>’s health under threat 17<br />
Breast cancer 17<br />
Infertility 20<br />
Where are women exposed<br />
to chemicals? 25<br />
<strong>Women</strong> as consumers 25<br />
<strong>Chemicals</strong> in products 26<br />
7<br />
Existing initiatives 54<br />
International Organisations 54<br />
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 54<br />
UN <strong>Women</strong> 56<br />
BRS Conventions Secretariat 56<br />
Strategic Approach to International<br />
<strong>Chemicals</strong> Management (SAICM) 57<br />
World Health Organisation (WHO) 57<br />
<strong>Women</strong> at home 30<br />
United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) 57<br />
Toxic building materials 30<br />
Indoor air pollution 30<br />
Typical exposure source at home –<br />
cleaning detergents 31<br />
<strong>Women</strong> at the workplace 33<br />
International Labour Organisation (ILO) 57<br />
Non-governmental Organisations 58<br />
Business 58<br />
Governments 59<br />
<strong>Women</strong> in agriculture 33<br />
<strong>Women</strong> in industry 36<br />
<strong>Women</strong> in the informal sector 37<br />
<strong>Women</strong> in services 38<br />
<strong>Women</strong> as mothers 39<br />
Pregnant women 39<br />
Breast milk contamination 40<br />
Conclusions <strong>and</strong> recommendations 61<br />
Bibliography 63<br />
Abbreviations 65<br />
<strong>Women</strong> in their environment 42