Pollution

Pollution refers to the presence of a chemical or substance present in the atmosphere or in soils at higher-than-normal concentration that has adverse effects on any non-targeted organism.

Women face higher risks due to structural and biological factors, including lower wages and lack of decent jobs, motherhood and menstruation, traditional gender roles and cultural norms, which usually mean that women are responsible for cooking, fetching water and cleaning, thereby potentially increasing their exposure to pollution sources. Exposure to certain additives included in pollutants can also cause infertility, spontaneous abortions, adverse birth outcomes, and an increased risk of breast cancer.