This document discusses the differentiated environmental impacts on women's and men's health from chemical pollutants. It notes that biological differences, specific pathologies related to maternity, inequalities in healthcare access, double occupational and home exposures, and social/cultural/psychological differences make women more vulnerable. It proposes that OECD countries develop an action plan to protect vulnerable populations from toxic pollution risks by preventing chemicals with severe long-term effects from entering bodies and environments, including endocrine disruptors and chemicals that accumulate in ecosystems, drinking water, and human bodies. It also suggests promoting restrictions on concerning chemical families and harmful chemicals used in consumer products to work toward a toxic-free environment.

1. DIFFERENTIATED ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS ON WOMEN’S AND MEN’S
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Tatiana Santos
Policy Manager: chemicals and
nanotechnology

2. p.2
CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS, A GENDER QUESTION
Biological differences
Specific pathologies
Maternity
Inequalities in health care
Habits
Double occupational exposure + home
Social, cultural, psychological differences
....
WOMEN ARE MORE VULNERABLE

3. p.3
GENDER AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

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POLICY PROPOSALS
Position the OECD countries as protectors of vulnerable populations from toxic pollution
by:
• Elaborating an action plan to protect vulnerable populations to prevent risks of
exposure;
• Preventing chemicals with severe and long-term effects from entering our bodies and
environment. This includes all endocrine disruptors and toxic chemicals that build up in
ecosystems, drinking water and in human bodies, pre-pollute babies before birth, and
then after birth through contaminated breast milk. These should be phased out
without delay.
• Promoting restrictions on families of chemicals of concern such as PFAS, mercury,
bisphenols, or phthalates as well as harmful chemicals used in consumer products such
as toys, cosmetics, food contact materials, textiles, hygienic products and childcare
equipment.
Toxic Free environment must be the goal

5. THANK YOU!
www.eeb.org
@Green_Europe
@EuropeanEnvironmentalBureau
eeb@eeb.org
The EEB gratefully acknowledges the financial support from the LIFE Programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the organizers’ views and does not commit the donors.