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?