The chemical substances are everywhere. And particularly in the workplace of women, according to the Weekly epidemiological bulletin (BEH) published by Public Health France this Tuesday, February 26. The solvents are used to clean metals, dilute paints, strip varnishes, purify perfumes during their manufacture … According to the report, more than a million working women of childbearing age (i.e. aged 15 at 44 years old) would thus be exposed to it daily, endangering their health and that of a potential fetus.
Indeed, previous studies had already proved that a repeated or chronic exposure to these products can cause cancer and be harmful to fertility. It can also be the cause of movement disorders, depression and cognitive disorders. The effects can have long-term repercussions, long after contact is made.
Oxygenated, petroleum and chlorinated solvents
In 2013, researchers were particularly interested in three major families of these substances. The oxygenated solvents (alcohols, ketones-esters and ethyl ethers), present in cleaning products, perfumes or paints, were thus the most widely used. And according to the conclusions, 15% of working people were exposed to it, particularly civil servants, nurses, midwives, hairdressers, housekeepers or hotel workers. That is almost 1,112,000 women.
The petroleum solvents varnishes, lacquers or adhesives, affected 1% of women (72,600 people). Women drivers and skilled workers in industry and crafts were specifically concerned. Finally, the chlorinated solvents, used in coatings or in printing, reached 0.1% of female workers (8,700 people), including female workers and employees in intermediate health and social professions.
Exposure also differs according to the age of the women studied: “The youngest (15-29 years old) are more exposed than their elders to oxygenated solvents. Conversely, the oldest (35-44 years) are more exposed to petroleum and chlorinated solvents ”, write the authors of the study. Self-employed workers are also more affected by all solvents than salaried workers. “Preventive measures should be proposed, since this population does not enter into the follow-up by the occupational medicine available for workers with salaried status”, they advocate as well.
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