Women and Chemicals

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Summary This report aims to summarize existing information and initiatives on the topic of women and chemicals. This report is a thought starter and was informed by and developed subsequent to an expert workshop held at UNEP’s offices in Geneva in 2014 and organised by WECF International. The workshop brought togeth- leading global experts on chemicals and health. It was decid- 1er ed to focus on the particular impacts from exposure to hazardous chemicals, taking into account biological and socio-economic aspects of women´s lives. A further complementary scoping study is planned at a later stage to consider the particular role of and impact on men. This report on women and chemicals does not claim to present an exhaustive overview of all available data and information. Instead it aims to give an overview of the topic from different perspectives, on health effects, exposures and policies. It illustrates how the topic of women and chemicals is currently covered in science and in activities of international organizations, governments, and civil society. During the preparation of the study it became clear how little attention this topic receives, compared to other areas, for example studies on the impacts on women’s lives related to climate change or water management, which are much better documented. There are almost no comprehensive studies and summaries currently available on the topic of women and chemicals, although an increasingly large body of evidence points to severe, irreversible and long term health effects of specific hazardous chemicals on women’s health, especially the health of pregnant women and the foetus. There is a lack of recognition by policy makers and translation into concrete protection measures, legislation and norms. Legislation to inform and protect women and men from chemical related health risks is weak in many countries. A specific policy focus on women with their different circumstances and needs in their role of protecting children from hazardous chemicals during their first months and years of development, is mostly non-existent. The few initiatives there are on awareness raising, empowerment and capacity building carry almost no weight in the bigger picture. Information for users and consumers such as product labelling is not widely available. Yet it is very much needed. In parallel with increasing production of hazardous chemicals and pesticides non-communicable diseases such as breast and other cancers, allergies and diabetes, all with links to chemical exposures, are on the rise. Breast cancer in particular is one of the most common causes of death for women worldwide. So far only a few projects addressing chemical policies and programs specifically target women and they are mainly organized and implemented by NGOs. UNDP developed a six-step approach to integrate gender and chemical issues into national development plans. However, this approach has yet to be imple- 6
Summary mented by governments. UNEP is developing a toolkit on protecting vulnerable groups from POPs and heavy metals; the publication is still in process. This report looks at health research, exposure data, and best practice policies to prevent exposure and health impacts. However, protection of women from hazardous chemicals is not enough. Women also have to be empowered as agents of change. With better information on the specific links between their health and hazardous chemicals, women can play a significant role as active supporters of the “2020 goal” of implementing the sound management of chemicals throughout their life cycle. Well-informed individuals need to cooperate on legislative development, enforcement, capacity building, production of safer alternatives, information and awareness raising, to ensure that chemicals are produced and used in ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on human health and the environment worldwide. There is little comprehensive information available on the risks of hazardous chemicals to women’s health; this study intends to make the first step to fill this gap. It shows that numerous scientific studies link exposure to hazardous chemicals with development of certain diseases and disorders including breast cancer, obesity, and infertility, which are most commonly experienced by women. The chapter “Where are women exposed to chemicals?” describes how women are exposed to hazardous chemicals at home, at work, in the environment and during different life stages including during pregnancy. The following chapters give a brief summary about on-going activities of international organisations, NGOs, business and governments on the specific issue of women and chemicals. These are rather limited, as an overview of current literature and websites shows, and are often found as part of studies on other topics such as for example occupational health or specific chemicals. In the current discussions on Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), pesticides and mercury some data is available on the effect that these hazardous chemical substances have particularly on women. However, there is still a great need for more in-depth information and work to be done on the socio-economic impacts of chemicals on women. Hence it is necessary to better understand these implications for the design of projects and programmes that actually help affected women in the long term. This study is only the first step, as more information needs to be explored and compiled by: • searching for best practice projects in implementation, capacity building and awareness raising and their indicators for success; • collecting more gender and sex disaggregated data on issues like exposure scenarios, impacts of hazardous chemicals on women’s health, activities to reduce exposures for women; • developing indicators for better measurement of hazardous chemicals’ impacts on women, especially through more research on sources and pathways of exposure. Yet with the information at hand, immediate concrete action can be taken by: • issuing a handbook on women and chemicals, with articles from experts presenting the latest in-depth information and research on women and chemicals; • supporting the issue of women and chemicals as a priority issue under the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM); • integrating a gender focus into existing funding schemes; • allocating and providing funding for projects on women and chemicals. To support the goal of empowering women and protecting them from hazardous chemicals, the following immediate action points are recommended: • make the most vulnerable group, in this case children and pregnant women, the norm (and not the exception) for developing threshold limits, where there are safe threshold limits; • support mandatory labelling of all chemicals in products to ensure the right to know; • strengthen women’s rights, in particular their participatory rights, in all aspects of decision making, chemical production, use and disposal; • clean up all chemical and heavy metal polluted ‘hot spots’ to protect the population living nearby and avoid further contamination; • implement the precautionary principle for chemicals which are harmful or suspected to be harmful to human health and environment, by regulatory measures. This first scoping overview on “Women and Chemicals” addresses policy makers, national competent authorities, international organisations, science, business and civil society. It will provide initial thoughts on the topic of women and chemicals and it aims to motivate further thought and research to design activities, which aim to empower women and to protect them from hazardous chemicals. Further work will need to be done to complete the gender picture and address the impacts of hazardous chemicals on men and boys. 7
Page 1 and 2: Women and Chemicals The impact of h
Page 3 and 4: Women and Chemicals The impact of h
Page 5: 1 Summary 6 5 Women as agents of ch
Page 9 and 10: WOMEN CAN BE KEY AGENTS OF CHANGE W
Page 11 and 12: Why women? Gender and other social
Page 13 and 14: Why women? laws, practices, attitud
Page 15 and 16: Why women? Endnotes chapter 2 1 Rio
Page 17 and 18: Women’s health under threat Typic
Page 19 and 20: Women’s health under threat Some
Page 21 and 22: Women’s health under threat Chemi
Page 23 and 24: Women’s health under threat Endno
Page 25 and 26: Where are women exposed to chemical
Page 47 and 48: Woman a agents of change less, if I
Page 49 and 50: What are the main harmful substance
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Existing initiatives Important prop
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Existing initiatives SAICM Ind. No.
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Conclusions and recommendations Dur
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Bibliography Bibliography Apelberg,
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Abbreviations ASGM Artisanal and sm
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