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Wristband study reveals universal exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals across occupations

In the Kenya Daily Nation, a story notes that a new report has revealed that exposure to toxic chemicals from plastics is not limited to those handling waste in dumpsites and recycling centres.

It shows that even workers in offices are exposed to harmful chemicals from plastics. The report was released on Wednesday evening during a press briefing by the International Pollutants Elimination Network (Ipen). They analysed samples from wristbands given to participants of the study from Kenya and Thailand mid-last year.

The participants were categorised into plastic recycling workers, plastic waste workers, and workers in other settings without occupational exposures to plastic waste. Separately, United Nations delegations attending the negotiations were given the same wristbands to check their level of exposure.

Dr Therese Karlson, Ipen’s technical adviser, said yesterday that analysing only 73 chemicals does not show the full picture. “All participants were exposed to at least 21 chemicals, in just five days. We know that there are more than 16,000 chemicals that have been identified as being associated with plastics. This is really just a snapshot and it shows that everyone is exposed globally,” she explained.

Dorothy Otieno, programme officer at the Centre for Environment Justice and Development, termed it extremely concerning that the difference in exposure to chemicals was so small and that it doesn’t matter where a person is. “Our expectations were that there would be a difference in terms of level of exposure for the waste workers and compared to the control group (those in offices),” she said.

“Waste workers deserve to work in a good, clean and safe environment and this is part of the just transition discussion that has to feature in the discussions of the plastics treaty.”

Read the full story in the Daily Nation.

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IPEN (Réseau international pour l'élimination des polluants)
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