1097-0274/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=e0f33b687598b5adbbbced84abe7a827fb4a7d56 "American Journal of Industrial Medicine")
Keynote address presented at concurrent meetings of the 3rd International Congress on Women's Health: Occupation, Cancer, and Reproduction; 16th Congress on Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH); and the 20th Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Society of Epidemiology. September 11–14, 2002. Barcelona, Spain.
Article
Pesticide exposure and women's health†
Article first published online: 14 NOV 2003
DOI: 10.1002/ajim.10256
Copyright © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Information
How to Cite
García, A. M. (2003), Pesticide exposure and women's health. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 44: 584–594. doi: 10.1002/ajim.10256
- †
Publication History
- Issue published online: 14 NOV 2003
- Article first published online: 14 NOV 2003
- Manuscript Accepted: 15 APR 2003
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- pesticides;
- exposure;
- women's health;
- cancer;
- reproduction
Abstract
Background
Research on pesticide-related health effects has been mostly focused in industrialized countries and in men. This paper discusses critical issues related to women's pesticide exposure and its effects on women's health.
Methods
The literature on pesticides was reviewed with emphasis on data related to women. Attention was focused on research suggesting different conditions of exposure or different response to pesticides by sex. Studies on cancer and reproductive effects were used as illustrative examples.
Results
Women are increasingly exposed to pesticides in developing countries, where women's poisoning and other pesticide-related injuries seem to be greatly underestimated. Many of the effects of pesticides in human health will be the same for men and women, but not always. Some organochlorine pesticides have been related to breast cancer in post-menopausal women. However, knowledge about other pesticides is much more limited. Epidemiological studies assessing maternal exposure to individual pesticides and abortion, fetal death, or congenital defects are not conclusive, although some suggestive associations have been observed.
Conclusions
Gender-sensitive research is needed to properly address the study of women's pesticide exposures and related adverse outcomes. A better understanding of potential gender–environment and sex–environment interactions related to pesticide exposure and health effects in women is needed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:584–594, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.