Reproductive Health Risks for Female Workers Exposed to Hazardous Working Conditions and Measures to Minimize Them

Abstract

Introduction. The problem of women’s health protection and maintaining their reproductive health is a relevant problem of occupational health. Material and methods. The assessment of exposure levels to hazardous occupational factors at workplaces and reproductive health indices of female workers of petrochemistry and mining of the Republic of Bashkortostan has been carried out. Results. Petrochemical female workers have been shown to be exposed to the combined impact of toxicants including saturated, unsaturated, aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. at the maximum permissible level or below their concentration, the mining and processing enterprise workers - to the combined impact of hazardous occupational factors (polymetallic ore dust, chemicals, industrial noise). The working conditions of female workers of both industries correspond to hazardous Class I. Most chemicals possess reproductive toxicity. A significantly high prevalence of menstrual disorders, benign neoplasms, obstetric pathology in the form of threatened abortion, gestosis in the second half of pregnancy, chronic placental insufficiency, and as well as newborns’ morbidity have been revealed among female workers of main groups. Conclusion. The labor of women in the modern petrochemical complex, as well as the mining and processing enterprise fails to provide female workers’ reproductive health safety. Studies have shown the need to develop a system of preventive measures which will promote reproductive health of workers.