Different effects according to gender:

Gender Equity in Analyzing the Risks and Effects of Pesticides on Women

By Bessie Vaquerano Castro*

There are both biological and non biological factors that explain the different risks to women and men from exposure to toxins, including pesticides.

Despite the fact that women do important work, not only in reproduction, but also in the production of goods and services, contributing significantly to the economy, many studies on the risks and effects of pesticides on humans have been done on men working in the fields. However, many women are also exposed to pesticides in their work, home, and in the environment in general, but the risks of their exposures have not been recognized or analyzed.

The purpose of this article is to begin a process of discussion and analysis of the information presented, to create and fortalice public policies and forces which can identify, prevent, control, and reduce the effects and risks of pesticides on women.

Globalization of Risks

The phenomenon of the globalization of the economy has been accompanied by the globalization of the risks to human health and the environment. Many chemical substances are produced, transported, used, and discarded. As a consequence, fear over the risks and effects that products can have on the people that are exposed to them is becoming more and more frequent. The intensive and extensive use of these synthetic pesticides to control pests is not sustainable, and has already negative impacted public health, the environment, society, and the economy.

Even though poisoning from contact with pesticides can be suffered as much by men as by women, there exists different biological and non-biological factors which can influence the effects of poisoning. The following are some factors that, according to Silvaggio T. and Mattison DR., explain the different risks of exposure in men and women.

1. The average weight and height of a man (70 kgs. y 170 cms.) is greater than that of a woman (58 kgs. y 160 cms.) and that of a pregnant woman 62.5 kgs. As a result, if all three are exposed to the same quantity of a pesticide from ingesting contaminated food or water, the risk is greater for the woman, with the lesser weight and height (see table 1).

2. Many pesticides dissolve easily in water. The total volume of water that a man has in his body is 42 liters, in a woman is 29 liters, and in a pregnant woman it is 33 liters. If the food or water ingested is contaminated by pesticides, the greatest risk is to the woman, who with the lesser volume of water will have a higher concentrations of pesticides.

3. The volume of air breathed every 8 hours by a man is 3,600 liters, by a woman is 2,900 liters, and by a pregnant women is 5,000 liters. In this case, if the air is contaminated by pesticides, the greatest risk is for the pregnant woman who exchanges the greatest volume of air and therefore there is a greater risk that the pesticide residues will be deposited in her lungs.

4. In pregnant women, the time required for the stomach to empty is greater than that for men. Additionally, the intestine of the pregnant women moves at a slower rate. Both of these factors increase the time that food stays in the organism, which means that the absorption of chemicals ingested in contaminated food and in water is greater for pregnant woman.

Table N° 1

Some factors that explain the different risks of pesticide exposure in men, women, and pregnant women.

Source: Silvaggio T y Mattison DR, JOM 1994; 36 : 849-854.

5. Special attention should be given to the fact that during pregnancy, the absorption of pesticides through the skin is greater due to the fact that blood flow increases by 40%, and even more in the hands, where it is 6 times greater, and in the feet where it doubles. This implies that those women that work applying pesticides in places like packing houses and greenhouses, as well as those that work with fruits and plants that have recently been fumigated, should take actions to prevent these risks. In the case of pregnant women, they should remove themselves from exposure immediately. Risk of exposure just as great for women that wash clothing impregnated by pesticides, that is brought home by their husbands, fathers, brothers, and children.

6. Many pesticides are easily dissolved in fat. Women have more body fat than men. During pregnancy, fat deposits are even greater. As a result of exposure to fat soluble pesticides, the body absorbs and stores these pesticides. Later, during gestation, the mother transfers these toxins to the fetus through the placenta. After birth, these toxins can be transferred to the baby in the fat contained in breast milk (Kanja LW et al., Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 1992, 22:21-24; Waliszewski SM et al., Salud Pública Mex 2000, 42:384-390). Additionally, during menopause, there is a redistribution of fat deposits, which mobilizes toxins within the fat, and the possible result could be the development of breast and/or uterine cancer. (Ahlborg UG et al, Crit Rev Toxicol 1995, 25:463-531).

7. During pregnancy, blood flow to the kidneys and, as a result, filtration by the kidneys, increases by 50%, which could create problems in the urinary track if the woman does not consume sufficient liquids, leaving more pesticide residues are left within the kidneys.

8. Women, on average, eat more fruits and vegetables, which often contain pesticide residues. Exposure to environmental contaminants during the final stages of pregnancy could cause fetal abnormalities which, in many instances, become apparent later in a child’s development. Examples of such abnormalities include increased respiratory diseases, cancer, decreases in a body’s defenses (depression of the immune system), changes in conduct (aggressiveness, hyperactivity, depression, and infertility, among others (Tchernitchin, Med Sci Res 1992; 20: 391-397).

Women and children spend more time within their homes, which means that they run a risk of being exposed to pesticides not only in their diet, but also from exposure to pesticide residues in dust. Contrary to what is believed, there can occur significant exposures to pesticide in homes. Gurunathan and collaborators (Environ Health Perspect 1998; 106:9-16) state that 90% of the homes within the United States use around 28.5 million kilograms of pesticides annually. Additionally, it has been determined that within homes where pesticides are used or that are located near areas where these substances are applied, there is a concentration of pesticides in dust that is from 10 to 600 times greater than that which is found outside in fumigated land and soils ( ).

The exposure of women to dangerous chemicals such as pesticides, inside and outside the home, as much in rural as in urban areas, should not continue to go unrecognized. There are differences in the impacts that pesticides have on women and on men. There are individual differences between men and in women, just as there are differences in women at different stages of their lives. It is important to know and understand all of the biological factors and their effects. Additionally, non-biological factors, such as the following, should be considered.

• Social conditions (beliefs and traditions, values, use and control of resources, pportunities, education, access to positions of power and decision making).

• Choice of work.

• Economic situation.

• Nutritional deficiencies.

• Medical physicals limited to reproductive years instead of for a woman’s entire life cycle.

E. Morberg (Realidades en el mundo, 1995) states that all of the above factors result in a series of conditions and situations that effect women: inadequate legislation, poverty, patriarchal systems, violence and abuse. All of these situations are detrimental to a woman’s health and quality of life. It is true that conception, estation, birth, and breast feeding are exclusively done by women. However, the risks from exposure to chemicals are not only determined by these biological factors, but also a woman’s role work and in the communities. It is necessary to know, understand, and analyze these differences and incorporate these gender issues into health studies in order ¡ to respond differently in the treatment of women or of men. This would have a great impact on both human development and quality of life.

Instead of continuing to apply control methods after pesticides are applied and after workers, their families, communities, and the general public are exposed, it would be preferable to use preventative methods that favor sustainable agricultural development, such as a gradual reduction in the use of pesticides in productionmethods.

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* Proyecto Aspectos Ocupacionales y Ambientales de la Exposición a Plaguicidas en el Istmo Centroamericano (PLAGSALUD).

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Side Notes

Many women are exposed to pesticides day after day in their work, the home, and the environment, however many of these factors have not been recognized or analyzed.

The use of synthetic chemical pesticides as the primary form of controlling pests is not sustainable, because it generates negative impacts to public health, the environment, society, and the economy.

Many pesticides are easily diluted in fats. Women have more body fat that men, and additionally, during pregnancy, fat deposits are even greater.

There are differences in the impact of pesticides on men and women. There are individual differences between men and women, as well as in women during stages of their life.