What We Know - New Science Linking our Health and the Environment
Power point environmental and occupational health
1. C H A P T E R 2 5
Environmental and
Occupational Health
2. 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
3. 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
4. Reproductive and Children’s Health
Toxins transferred through breast milk
Some 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 US
Breast milk is still considered better than formula
due to the benefits out weighing the risks
Formula fed babies have a greater risk of ear
infections, respiratory tract infections, SIDS, and
childhood leukemia, asthma, diarrhea, and eczema
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. Types of Hazards - Radiation
2 types non-ionizing and ionizing
Non-ionizing radiation is found in microwave,
electronics, and voltage line waves
Undetermined if exposure leads to reproductive
complications
Ionizing 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. Types of Hazards – Pesticides
Most common and utilized synthetic product
1.2 billion pounds used annually in US, 5 billion
worldwide
Exposure 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
14. 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
15. Pesticides and Food Safety
Purchase certified organic foods
Purchase 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
16. 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
17. 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
18. 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.
19. 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 bottles
Minimize use of canned foods and drinks
Ask dentist for BPA free sealants
20. 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 Ontario
Phthalates – chemical that makes plastic more pliable
Found in wallpaper, paints, soda cans, pesticides, and
food
Nearly all Americans have this in their urine
Exposure associated with asthma, allergies, autism,
endocrine disorder, among others
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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
24. Improving Workplace Safety
Substitute safer alternatives
Isolate or enclose the process
Improve housekeeping
Accept personal protective equipment
Secure Protections
Create Committees
Negotiate contracts
25. 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
26. 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
27. 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?