[Climate and environmental crisis impacts on women's health: What specificities? What can be done?] / Impacts de la crise environnementale et climatique sur la santé de la femme : quelles spécificités ? Que peut-on faire ?

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Pollution is one of the world's largest risk factors for disease and premature death. In Europe, it is responsible for approximately 20% of mortality. Chemicals exposure can occur by inhalation, ingestion or skin contact and begins in utero. Pollutants can be divided into three categories endocrine disruptors (pesticides, PFAS, plastics, dioxins, etc.), heavy metals (cadmium, mercury and lead…) and nanomaterials. Climate change and air pollution are other main health threats. METHODS: Literature review using PubMed and ResearchGate databases and institutional websites. RESULTS: Endocrine disruptors are identified as significant risk factors for the reproductive health with negative documented impacts following prenatal or adult exposure. Climate change and air pollution can cause gender-based health disparities. Numerous scientific arguments show that chemical pollution and climate change disproportionately impact women, both on a social and biological level. Populations in precarious situations among which women are over-represented suffer the most severe social consequences including in France. There are several gender-specific domestic or occupational exposures to pollutants, most often to the disadvantage of women compared to men. Finally, although very few gendered data exist in environmental health, there are sexual-based physiological vulnerabilities concerning the metabolism of pollutants and the capacity to adapt to heat. CONCLUSION: Facing this threat of gender inequity in sexual and reproductive health and rights' width, women's health professionals have a major role to play in initiating new ways to assess and reduce the environmental health burden in women.