Although little is known about the cause of the majority of reproductive health problems, we do know that certain workplace hazards can impact a woman's fertility, her ability to carry a pregnancy to full term, or increase the risk of birth defects.
Female reproductive health hazards include:
- radiation
- certain chemicals
- some drugs both legal and illegal
- cigarettes
- certain viruses
- alcohol
How a reproductive health hazard affects a woman or her unborn child, and whether it has more than one effect, depends on exactly when she is exposed. During the first trimester of pregnancy, exposure to a harmful substance may cause a miscarriage or birth defect; exposure to a harmful substance during the last two trimesters of pregnancy could potentially affect the growth of the fetus, the development of the brain, or increase the risk of premature labor.
Not every woman exposed to these harmful substances will experience the possible harmful affect to her reproductive health or her pregnancy.
Workplace Reproductive Health Hazards
Chemical or physical hazards in the workplace include:- Cancer
treatment drugs such as methotrexate, which can affect
health care workers and pharmacists. Known observed
effects of this type of exposure include infertility,
miscarriage, birth defects, and low birth weight.
- Electronic
and semiconductor workers may be exposed to certain
glycol ethers such as 2-ethoxyethanol (2EE) and
2-methoxyethanol (2ME). Exposure to these chemicals is
known to cause miscarriages.
- Women
whose work involves viscose rayon have been known to
experience menstrual cycle changes due to exposure to
carbon disulfide (CS2).
- Over
100 years ago lead was known to cause miscarriages,
stillbirths, and infertility in female pottery workers.
Today lead is still a workplace reproductive health
hazard for battery makers, solderers, welders, radiator
repairers, bridge repainters, firing range workers, and
home remodelers. In addition to the health effects above,
lead exposure can cause low birth weight and
developmental disorders.
- Health
care workers, dental professionals, and atomic workers
may be exposed to ionizing radiation such as X-rays and
gamma rays. This type of exposure can cause infertility,
miscarriage, birth defects, low birth weight,
developmental disorders, and childhood cancers.
- All pregnant workers, as well as women who don't work outside the home, should be aware that strenuous physical labor such as prolonged standing, or heavy lifting, can cause miscarriage late in pregnancy, or premature delivery.
