There are many chemicals agents and physical factors that have the potential to be a reproductive hazard to men, women, and children.[1] Exposure to many of these could occur at the workplace.[2][3][4] Some examples include heavy metals (e.g. lead), noise, work schedules, heavy lifting, smoke and byproducts of burning, infectious agents, pesticides, heat, etc. In the United States, there are over 80,000 chemicals used in the workplace, many of which are untested or inadequately tested for reproductive toxicity.[5][6][7]
The following laws have been important in the protection of workers, the protection of pregnant women in the workplace, and the regulation of chemicals used by industries in the United States.
There are several critical windows of vulnerability that can affect the development of the fetus, which is an important factor to take into account when looking at workplace exposures before conception and during pregnancy. Women and their fetuses have different susceptibilities to chemicals and other exposures than men or non-pregnant women.[26][27]
Workplace exposures have the potential to cause a wide array of health and reproductive problems in men and women.
Various studies have shown the potential negative effects on pregnancy by different occupational exposures of women.[36]
Exposure | Effects observed | Examples of work with potential exposure[37] |
---|---|---|
Anesthetic gases[38][39] | Miscarriage[40][41] | Healthcare professionals working in operating rooms and/or recovery rooms, veterinary and animal care workers, |
Antineoplastic (Chemotherapy) drugs[42] | Miscarriage, birth defects, and infertility[43][44][45][46] | Healthcare professionals (e.g. pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, nurses, doctors, veterinarians, and hospital operation room personnel) |
Chemical disinfectants and sterilants | Healthcare professionals, laboratory technicians, veterinary and animal care workers, | |
Formaldehyde | Laboratory technicians, morticians/anatomy students/medical students, beauty technicians (e.g. hair, nails) | |
Heat | Artists (e.g. craftwork, fine arts, pottery, etc.), firefighters, restaurant and bar personnel, | |
Heavy metals (e.g. lead, ___) | ||
Noise | Farmworkers, greenhouse workers, musicians, | |
Pesticides | Farmworkers, greenhouse workers, veterinary and animal care workers, | |
Physical demands (e.g. bending, lifting, standing) | Aircrew (pilots and flight attendants), child care personnel, farmworkers, firefighters, greenhouse workers, healthcare professionals, office workers, veterinary and animal care workers, | |
Radiation (ionizing or nonionizing) | Aircrew (pilots and flight attendants), laboratory technicians, | |
Smoke or byproducts of burning (e.g. PAHs) | Artists (e.g. craftwork, fine arts, pottery, etc.), farmworkers, firefighters, greenhouse workers, restaurant and bar personnel, | |
Second-hand smoke | Restaurant and bar personnel | |
Solvents | Artists (e.g. craftwork, fine arts, pottery, etc.), laboratory technicians, beauty technicians (e.g. hair, nails) | |
Work schedule (e.g. shift work) | Aircrew (pilots and flight attendants), child care personnel, firefighters, healthcare professionals, office workers, |
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[[Category: Reproductive health]]