402 Work
Work with
Chemicals
➤ Avoid all
unnecessary contact
with chemicals.
Many women have contact with dangerous chemicals, often
without knowing it. This is because many modern products
used in daily life and at work contain hidden chemicals. Some of
them can be very harmful, such as:
• pesticides, fertilizers, weed killers, and animal dips.
• paints, paint thinners, paint remover and solvents.
• fuels and pottery glazes with lead in them.
• cleaning products containing bleach and lye.
• hair dressing and beauty products.
Health problems
Some chemicals cause harm to your body right away, even if
you do not feel sick. Others cause harm that shows up later on,
even after you have stopped using the chemicals. Some damage
lasts only a short time. Other damage is permanent.
Signs of health problems caused by chemicals:
Head:
headaches, dizziness.
Nose and throat:
soreness, burning,
sneezing, coughing.
Chest and lungs:
wheezing, dry cough,
shortness of breath,
frequent colds.
Chemicals can cause
diseases of the lungs.
Urine system
(bladder and kidneys):
too little or no urine,
change in urine color,
or blood in the urine.
Chemicals can cause kidney
and bladder damage.
IMPORTANT
Be especially careful about
contact with chemicals
if you are pregnant or
breastfeeding. Chemicals
can harm your baby.
Eyes: irritation,
redness, watering.
Teeth and gums: decaying teeth, blue
gums—especially with lead poisoning.
Liver: yellow skin and eyes, tea-colored
urine, clay-colored stool, pain in the
upper right side. These are signs of a
serious liver disease (hepatitis).
Skin: pain, redness, irritation, cracking,
itching. Chemicals can cause burns,
allergies, ulcers, and cancer.
Other general warning signs:
• You feel nervous or irritable.
• Your body shakes, or your
heart beats fast.
• You feel tired, drunk, or cannot
think clearly.
If you cannot explain why any of
these problems are happening to
you, they may be caused by chemicals,
especially if you are using solvents
or cleaning fluids, pesticides, or
materials containing lead.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012