Health

People can be affected differently by exposure to certain chemicals. Both biological sex-related factors (e.g. different body composition and hormone levels) and gender-related factors may influence how substances are absorbed and processed in the body. As a result, the same chemical exposure may have different health effects across individuals.

Studies increasingly show that women, men, girls, and boys carry different levels of pollutants in their bodies, although the reasons are still not well understood. More research is needed to better understand exposure patterns shaped by gender roles in society.

Especially women are more vulnerable during specific life stages, such as pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause, when even low levels of harmful substances can have significant impacts. Chemical exposure is therefore also an issue of intergenerational justice, as some substances can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy or breastfeeding. At the same time, men’s health is also affected: declining sperm quality in recent decades may be linked in part to chemical exposure, with possible consequences for future generations.

Despite these risks, significant knowledge gaps remain. There is still a major lack of sex- and gender-disaggregated data in chemical research. For intersex people, data is almost entirely missing. Historically, toxicology has often relied on the male body as the standard model, creating important knowledge gaps and limiting understanding of sex-specific health needs.

Gender roles also shape health responsibilities: Women often act as “family health managers” and carry much of the time-intensive care of the sick in the family and in communities. This underscores the need for gender-responsive approaches to better protect the health of all genders – for example, by developing tailored awareness-raising campaigns and addressing neglected or stigmatized health topics such as menstrual health and male reproductive health.