CHAPTER 25

Environmental and Occupational Health

Occupational and Environmental Health Hazards

Hazards such as chemicals, toxins, and other manufactured hazards are found in the home, workplace, and environment through the air and water

Hazards affect health, may cause myriad cancers, neurologic disorders, allergies, and behavioral changes

Increasing research shows a relationship between environmental health and reproductive health and children’s health

Reproductive and Children’s Health

Environment has shown to impact reproductive health, some examples are elevated rates of cancer in reproductive organs, premature births, miscarriages and birth impairments

Fetuses and babies unable to metabolize and inactivate harmful chemicals

Sperm and eggs can be damaged by pesticides, chemicals, or other chemical exposures leading potentially affecting the embryo’s development

President’s Cancer Panel (2010) found approx. 300 chemicals present in umbilical cords

Reproductive and Children’s Health

Toxins transferred through breast milkSome babies are at higher risk

example indigenous people in the high Arctic are seven times more prone than babies in the US or Canada

Many chemicals have been banned in the USBreast milk is still considered better than formula

due to the benefits out weighing the risksFormula fed babies have a greater risk of ear

infections, respiratory tract infections, SIDS, and childhood leukemia, asthma, diarrhea, and eczema

Reproductive and Children’s Health

Due to a more vulnerable immune system, physiology, and metabolism children are at greater risk of damage to nervous system, brain, reproductive organs, and endocrine system

As the amount of concentrated chemical rises so do the number of childhood illnesses such as leukemia, brain cancer, and other cancers linked to environmental carcinogens

Occupational Health

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) focuses on workplace health and safety

Workers and surrounding environments are vulnerable to industrial practices and pollution

People constantly being exposed to chemicals, such as pesticides

Advocacy

Only a few hundred of the tens of thousands of chemicals used are adequately tested; many chemicals suspected of causing cancer are not regulated at all

Community activists, researchers, and advocates are advocating for a new paradigm that encourages anticipatory action in the absence of scientific uncertainty

Precautionary Principal: requires taking action in the face of uncertainty, shifting the burden of proof to those who create risks, and analyzing alternatives to potentially harmful chemicals one at a time

Advocacy

Women are pushing for more research on risks, launching community-based health projects, calling for enforcement of regulations to keep our environment safe, and insisting that vulnerable communities are protected and compensated for health burdens

Collaborative on Health and the Environment: organization of international partnership that pays special attention to reproductive and cross-generational impacts

Types of Hazards - Lead

Lead: neurotoxin, which means affects the nerve cells. It is natural in the environment in trace amounts: travels through air, food, water, dust, and various products.

Has industrial and commercial uses: plumbing pipes and car batteries

Acute exposure can cause lead poisoning, affects 1 million children in the US. Low income families are at an 8 times greater risk, due to standard housing and lack of nutritional foods. African American children are 5 times more likely to develop then white children

Symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, coma, and death

Long term exposure: brittle bones, anemia, damage to brain and nervous function, liver, kidney, and blood systems

Types of Hazards - Radiation

2 types non-ionizing and ionizingNon-ionizing radiation is found in microwave,

electronics, and voltage line wavesUndetermined if exposure leads to

reproductive complicationsIonizing radiation exposure is due to nuclear

power plant emissions, uranium mining, weapons testing, and medical technologies

Found to be the longest established environmental cause of breast cancer in men and women

Types of Hazards - Mercury

Mercury can damage central nervous system, endocrine system, heart, lungs, immune system, and kidneys

Especially harmful to pregnant women and fetuses: Can cause neurological disorders, decreased brain function, delayed onset of walking, permanent kidney damage, and decreased sperm count in boys

Pregnant women are told to are recommended to avoid or ingest a small amount of high risk fish, including tuna and shark

Types of Hazards - Mercury

Symptoms or Mercury poisoning include itching, burning or pain: skin discolorations; shedding of skin; muscle weakness; red face; loss of teeth; hair and nails; and photophobia

Mercury has been banned in most cosmetic products and thermometers

Mercury still found in trace amounts in some eye make-up

Types of Hazards – Pesticides

Most common and utilized synthetic product1.2 billion pounds used annually in US, 5 billion

worldwideExposure has been linked to developmental problems

and reproductive complications: abnormal ovary and menstrual function; decreased sperm count; early puberty; delayed testis, prostate, and penis development; infertility; miscarriage; stillbirth; and increased risk of cervical, vaginal, testicular, and childhood brain cancers

If exposed during pregnancy can cause brain autism

Types of Hazards and Avoidance – Pesticides

Journal of Agro-medicine (2007) “every chemical class of pesticides has at least one agent capable of affecting a reproductive or developmental endpoint in laboratory animals or people

Avoidance: -avoid using pesticides in homes and on lawns and

gardens - wear protective clothing when using pesticides - never smoke, eat, or drink when using pesticides - do not apply pesticides before a heavy rain, may wash

into sewers contaminating water supply - apply in early cool weather with a small breeze to reduce

air travel - Follow disposal recommendation, never pour down toilet,

sink, or sewer

Pesticides and Food Safety

Purchase certified organic foodsPurchase and consume the 15 least sprayed

fruits and vegetables: onions, avocados, frozen sweet corn, pineapple, mango, frozen sweet peas, asparagus, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, sweet potato, and honeydew melon

Wash and limit intake of most sprayed fruits and vegetables celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, kale, cherries, potatoes, and imported grapes

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals EDCs

Industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals that mimic natural hormones and include any chemical or substance that affects development and function.

Used to block or interfere with complex hormonal messages that affect body function such as thyroid mechanics, sexual development and behavior, metabolism, and nervous and immune function

Low level exposure is not greatly understood, however increasing concerns on the danger of high level exposure on reproductive health

Example: diethylstilbestrol, or DES, a synthetic estrogen have shown high miscarriage rates and vaginal cancers in the children of pregnant DES users

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals EDCs

Found in pesticides, bisphenol (a material used to make plastic), some cosmetics, flame retardants, glues, sealants, and cleaning products

Fat-soluble – they accumulate in animal fat and animal products and are then consumed

Women at higher risk due to increased body fat

Exposure affected by indoor air quality

BPA - Bisphenol A

used in hard plastics such as baby bottle linings, cans, sippy cups, food containers, ect

Endocrine disrupting chemical May cause cancers, infertility, heart disease,

liver abnormalities, genital abnormalities, obesity, early puberty in girls, cognitive and behavioral impairments, diabetes, asthma, ADD, hyper activity disorder, and cardiovascular system abnormalities.

BPA - Bisphenol A - Avoidance

Look for number 7 on bottom of plastic items, as this identifies as containing BPA

Don’t microwave plastic containers, and discard old or damaged bottles

Choose glass or stainless steel bottlesMinimize use of canned foods and drinksAsk dentist for BPA free sealants

Other Hazards to Avoid

PCBS Polychlorinated biphenyls, one of the most hazardous chemicals

Most usage banned since 1979, but can contaminate our bodies and environment for years

PCS hotspots are NYC, Lake Erie and Lake OntarioPhthalates – chemical that makes plastic more

pliableFound in wallpaper, paints, soda cans, pesticides,

and foodNearly all Americans have this in their urineExposure associated with asthma, allergies, autism,

endocrine disorder, among others

Exposure

Exposure is heavily affected by environmental conditions, gender, race, ethnicity, and class

Economic and social power determines how we are able to protect ourselves

Low socioeconomic status=higher exposure risks

3 of 5 largest landfills in US are based in Black or Latino communities

Decrease Risks

Be a careful consumer, be aware of ingredients in all foods and containers

Investigate environmental conditions, get info on under worker and right to know legislation at scoregaurd.com

Investigate studies, find out who paid for study, are they biased?

Talk to your neighbors, develop alliances to protect community health

Document your health. Keep a log of exposures and diagnosis

Decrease Risks

Work in coalition – Join a movement or organization. There are many organizations work to protect families and communities, such as The National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, Center for Health, Environment and Justice, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and many more

Improving Workplace Safety

Substitute safer alternativesIsolate or enclose the processImprove housekeepingAccept personal protective equipment Secure ProtectionsCreate CommitteesNegotiate contracts

Women making a Difference

Alice Hamilton – grandmother of environmental movement Author of Exploring the Dangerous Trades, a book on

occupational hazards Rachel Carson – author of Silent Spring, publicized

risks of pesticide dangers Hazel Johnson – cofounded West Harlem

Environmental Action to challenge the location of a water treatment plant

Patty Martin – founded Safe Food and Fertilizer after discovering hazardous wastes being blended into fertilizers causing crop failure

QUOTE by President’s Cancer Panel

“ The true burden of environmentally induced cancer has been grossly underestimated. With nearly 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States, many of which are used by millions of Americans in their daily lives and are un- or under studied and largely unregulated, exposure to potential environmental carcinogens is widespread”

Page 728 – Our Bodies, Ourselves

Reflection

The chemicals mentioned are widespread and obviously recognized to be harmful. Don’t you see something wrong with a well known BPA chemical being used in our children’s baby bottles and cups when people are ware of the possible affects? This really boggles my mind. I wonder why the government has not done away with this chemical. They are so worried about healthcare and costs. Why wouldn’t they attack at the root of a lot of diseases?