Women and Chemicals
WomenAndChemicals_PublicationIWD2016
WomenAndChemicals_PublicationIWD2016
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Where are women exposed to chemicals?<br />
<strong>and</strong> to water systems <strong>and</strong> emit into the air. They can also contaminate<br />
livestock <strong>and</strong> crops nearby the vicinity. People living<br />
near stockpiles have a high risk of developing negative health<br />
effects of endocrine, nervous, immune, respiratory, <strong>and</strong> reproductive<br />
systems, which can lead to asthma, cancer, infertility,<br />
allergies <strong>and</strong> other diseases. Clean up of chemical hot spots is<br />
incredibly expensive. In many cases only safe storing is undertaken,<br />
instead of elimination.<br />
Some hot spots arise from industrial activities <strong>and</strong> mining.<br />
For example, in Albania the former chlor alkali <strong>and</strong> PVC<br />
plant in Vlora directly discharged its wastewater into Vlora bay<br />
<strong>and</strong> dumped its polluted sludge near the shore, where it remains<br />
today. The plant operated for 25 years <strong>and</strong> was closed<br />
in 1992. No precautionary measures have been taken in these<br />
years <strong>and</strong> since the shut down. The found mercury levels in a<br />
soil sample were 1000 times higher than typical EU thresholds.<br />
Vlora bay is an important fish area in Albania. 84 Eating<br />
contaminated fish <strong>and</strong> other food or drinking contaminated<br />
water is even more dangerous for pregnant women, as the<br />
developing child can suffer later in life from neurological<br />
problems like attention deficits, IQ loss <strong>and</strong> in some cases<br />
even deafness <strong>and</strong> blindness.<br />
It is very difficult to retrieve gender disaggregated data<br />
regarding chemical hot spots. However, many studies show<br />
that there is a strong link between several diseases such as<br />
breast cancer <strong>and</strong> living near POPs <strong>and</strong> pesticides hot spots.<br />
Much effort is needed to map, store <strong>and</strong> finally clean up those<br />
contaminated sites. Clean up costs are so tremendous that<br />
many countries cannot afford it. This is one reason why many<br />
NGOs dem<strong>and</strong> for an internalization of cost scheme on international<br />
level to implement the polluter pays principle. Furthermore<br />
research for cost effective <strong>and</strong> safe elimination of<br />
POPs stockpiles should be supported, as safe alternatives to<br />
incineration.<br />
Most frequently occuring contaminants<br />
Water pollution, chemical industry<br />
(% of total BOD emissions)<br />
Water pollution, chemical industry 2009-2013. Source: World Bank 81<br />
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