Toxic chemicals in the workplace are causing severe health concerns among the laborers.
Despite strong laws, many workers still remain vulnerable to chronic diseases like cancers, heart attacks, asthma, etc. due to such exposures.
Proactive medical care can play an important role in identifying and addressing these health risks early, ensuring that workers receive timely interventions and preventative measures.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 370,000 premature deaths have occurred due to exposure to dangerous chemicals in the workplace.
As the introduction of new chemicals has ramped up over the past few years, regulatory mechanisms are lagging behind.
Check out the five most common health issues that are caused due to chemical exposure in the workplace.
1. Asthma
Asthma is the most prevalent respiratory disease in industrialized countries. A research report found that 35.4% of studied workers had occupational asthma. They are mainly divided into two types:
- Sensitizer-induced Asthma: It is the most common type of asthma that is caused by a chemical reaction in the workplace. Symptoms can be seen in the patient within weeks to years after exposure.
- Irritant-induced Asthma: It refers to the type of asthma that is caused by a high-level exposure to a specific irritant. Irritant-induced asthma symptoms will be visible within a day of exposure.
Workers with pre-existing respiratory diseases are the most vulnerable. Exposure to hazardous substances awakens underlying asthma symptoms in them.
Diagnosing them earlier can reduce the worsening of symptoms and can even save the patients.
2. Cancers
Exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace can lead to various types of cancers. Over 129 harmful carcinogenic (cancer-causing) agents are mentioned in a recent report of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
Unfortunately, most of these agents can affect workers in prominent occupations, like farming, driving, mining, etc..
Industrial workers are often the worst prey. For instance, exposure to air contaminated with asbestos can cause cancer. Similarly, inhalation of crystalline silica (c-silica) can increase the risk of cancer.
Unfortunately, both these components are common in construction-related industries.
3. Water-borne Diseases
Companies usually deploy safety equipment to ensure a safe workplace environment. But sometimes, such tools themselves cause many hidden dangers.
For instance, firefighting foam, commonly used in industrial fire suppression, contains PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).
Workers who have prolonged exposure to firefighting foam may absorb these chemicals, states TorHoerman Law.
Gradually, it will have a significant effect on the endocrine system and alter the hormone levels. This leads to many long-term health issues like thyroid, reduced fertility, etc.
The issue has become so severe in some areas that it has led to legal actions. Some workers have initiated a firefighting foam lawsuit against the manufacturing companies for not warning the users despite knowing the health hazards.
As a result, several policies are being demanded to introduce protective measures when using any chemical-based safety equipment in the workplace.
4. Kidney Damage
Many chemicals in workplaces can cause serious disruptions in effective kidney functioning. Benzene is one such common hazardous chemical that is mainly found in fuels, paints, etc.
A recent study found that workers exposed to mixed organic solvents are more likely to have chronic kidney diseases.
Chemicals could reach a body through any route like inhalation, skin absorption, or even swallowing. Since kidneys act as blood filtering organs of the body, damage to them could be fatal.
High blood pressure can increase the workload of the heart, which can cause damage to blood vessels. Similarly, those with diabetes may have unfiltered blood in their kidneys.
Therefore, workers with underlying medical issues are more vulnerable to kidney-related diseases than others.
5. Reproductive Health Issues
Workplace chemicals have the capability to cause serious problems to the reproductive system of workers. Some common issues are infertility, erectile dysfunction, ovulation disorders, etc.
If women experience high-level exposure to pesticides, the estrogen and progesterone hormone balance may disrupt. This may cause serious disruptions in the menstrual cycle.
When it comes to men, sex hormone production is severely affected. In worst cases, chemical drugs may cause chromosomal abnormalities and gene mutations in sperm, potentially leading to birth defects.
Therefore, laborers, especially those working in industries manufacturing pesticides and other chemicals, must ensure proper safety measures before working.
Being aware of the toxic chemicals in your workplace and their exposure limits is crucial for your workplace safety.
In case of an unaddressed risk, report it to the concerned authorities as soon as possible for timely analysis.
Even after corrective measures are implemented, it’s essential to continuously monitor their effectiveness to maintain a safe environment.
