Transformation: Professor Zuin Zeidler presents new Lancet publication

Professor Zeidler, why gender matters for addressing chemical pollution?

It is essential to address the unequal and differentiated impacts caused by chemical products, especially according to gender. For instance, exposure and risk assessment data continues to use the average European male, with a median body weight and height, and to extrapolate data from animals (e.g., risk criteria, policies and legislation). As a result, solutions are often ineffective, especially for individuals undertaking gendered and racialised chemically intensive work, such as some conventional agricultural labour. Simply put, our knowledge systems for understanding, managing and governing chemicals have systemic gaps that reinforce structural inequalities. Thus, integrating gender in such discussion presents opportunities to develop more robust research, teaching and outreach programmes, and evidence-based policies on chemical pollution than currently available. 

How large is the bias and what are the consequences? 

Women, men, children and other genders are impacted differently by exposure to toxic products, showing different reactions. This is due to biological differences, social and specific division of tasks or occupational roles. These differences are not usually considered in risk assessment and political regulations. For example, there are several studies linking exposure to toxic chemicals to gender issues, mainly affecting female workers: exposure to toxic chemicals in cleaning and personal care products is widespread and causes preventable deaths. Nurses and healthcare workers have a 50 percent higher rate of breast cancer than women in other professions (WECF, 2021). This was a theme discussed in the 'Global Framework on Chemicals', formally established at the 5th International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) in Bonn, Germany, 2023, which integrated representatives from governments, private sector, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations, youth, and academia participated on an equal footing. The discussion of its Resolution V/4 - 'Mainstreaming a gender perspective and promoting gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls in chemicals and waste management' - inspired us to write this paper in a scientific journal with a high impact factor and an important audience. 

Which methods could be used to strengthen the gender dimension in research?

It is not just research related to toxicology, but the consideration that there are various aspects, from other areas (such as regulation) and sectors (industries) to be taken into account, which requires the use of different methods, in an interdisciplinary way. Here I would like to mention that in our recently approved Master's programme Sustainability Science: Resources, Materials and Chemistry (M.Sc.), we focus on Chemistry and sustainability in a broader and more up-to-date way, and important topics like these are included in the curriculum, in order to educate our students with a greater and better ability to interconnect facts, to make it possible to build a planet free of harm from chemicals and waste for the most vulnerable groups, as well as for everyone.

40 researchers and journalists from 28 countries met in the #ResearchComLab in Berlin to discuss good science communication. Prof. Vânia Zuin Zeidler was one of them: “I was delighted to receive such an honourable invitation to be a speaker for two sessions, on climate crisis and holistic approaches to creating more diversity in science and science communication. Regarding the most important things to consider when communicating climate issues, I would say accepting that the climate crisis exists, but it is not accepted or seen in the same way by different groups. For example, for some, it's accepted, for others it's getting out of the inertia of thought and action, and for many it's getting out of the field of despair, of having to save the world by flushing the toilet or brushing their teeth with less water, throwing the right rubbish in the right bin (only in an individual sphere, without considering the collective), not even what comes before or after throwing this ‘waste’. Most people want easy answers and solutions to interconnected, complicated problems and crisis. We need to adjust the language for different audiences, without losing the correctness of scientific terms and data. With regard to diversity and especially gender imbalance in science, it should be noted that this problem has been well documented in the literature, for instance due to a lack of systematic strategies or policies to support women in science in general (and chemistry in particular). A very relevant discussion took place about the obstacles and ways to increase diversity and inclusion in science, science communication and research as well as best practices (i.e, identification of some of the current problems, adequate recognition, fair access to resources and decision-making positions, as well as long-term career sustainability). Vânia Zuin Zeidler also commented about the inclusion of such topics in our recently approved Master's programme Sustainability Science: Resources, Materials and Chemistry (M.Sc.), what makes it quite unique all over the Globe.” The Communication Lab is a joint project of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the International Journalists' Programmes, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.