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Nurses at High Risk for Chemical Exposure
Are the very people who we depend on the most to keep us healthy putting their own health at risk through workplace exposure? A new study released in December by Environmental Working Group and Health Care Without Harm found that nurses are exposed to a shocking number of toxic chemicals in their daily work routines.
The survey of over 1500 nurses asked about exposure to 11 common chemicals, including hand sanitizers, latex, chemotherapy and antiretroviral drugs, medical devices containing mercury, gases for anesthesia, and even personal care products such as shampoo and soap. The results of the survey showed that nurses exposed at least once a week to the chemicals had increased rates of cancer, asthma, and miscarriages. There was also some evidence that nurses who were pregnant when exposed to the chemicals had children with higher rates of musculoskeletal defects.
The study found that there are few regulations that limit nurses' exposure to harmful chemicals, and that most nurses are not aware of the dangers they face. "As much as we rely on nurses to protect us when we're sick, we're not protecting nurses in return," said Jane Houlihan, the vice president of research for the Environmental Group and one of the study's authors.
Despite the study's findings, there are improvements being made in hospitals across the country. Latex glove use is being limited due to allergic reactions, and vinyl (PVC) is being phased out in some hospitals as awareness about its hazards expands.
The authors of the study hope that the survey's results will persuade national health officials to study the issue further and pass regulation to limit chemical exposure among nurses.
