title: Chemical exposures of women workers in the plastics industry with particular reference to breast cancer and reproductive hazards.
abstract: Despite concern about the harmful effects of substances contained in various plastic consumer products, little attention has focused on the more heavily exposed women working in the plastics industry. Through a review of the toxicology, industrial hygiene, and epidemiology literatures in conjunction with qualitative research, this article explores occupational exposures in producing plastics and health risks to workers, particularly women, who make up a large part of the workforce. The review demonstrates that workers are exposed to chemicals that have been identified as mammary carcinogens and endocrine disrupting chemicals, and that the work environment is heavily contaminated with dust and fumes. Consequently, plastics workers have a body burden that far exceeds that found in the general public. The nature of these exposures in the plastics industry places women at disproportionate risk, underlining the importance of gender. Measures for eliminating these exposures and the need for regulatory action are discussed.
authors.affiliation: National Network on Environmental and Women's Health, York University, Canada. dematteoca@yahoo.ca
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: DeMatteo
authors.forename: Margaret M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Keith
authors.forename: James T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Brophy
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wordsworth
authors.forename: Andrew E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Watterson
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Anne Rochon
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gilbertson
authors.forename: Jyoti
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pharityal
authors.forename: Magali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rootham
authors.forename: Dayna Nadine
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016272:Occupational Health; D010969:Plastics / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances; D010969:Plastics