The silent threat of chemical pollution
The silent threat of chemical pollution
According to recent reports, which you can also consult in the bibliography provided, over 100 million synthetic chemicals are circulating worldwide, many of which have still little-known effects on human health and the environment.
A recent report warns that it is time to act with the same urgency as the climate crisis.
Chemical pollution poses a threat to the health of the planet and humankind as serious as climate change, yet it still receives a fraction of the media, political, and financial attention given to the climate crisis. The alarm is raised by a report published by Deep Science Ventures (DSV), the result of months of research and interviews with scientists, entrepreneurs, and third-sector leaders, with the support of the Grantham Foundation.
According to the data collected, the industrial economy has generated over 100 million “new chemical entities,” that is, synthetic substances that do not exist in nature. Of these, it is estimated that between 40,000 and 350,000 are currently used on a commercial scale. Many are already contaminating soil, air, water, and living organisms, without their toxicological effects having been adequately assessed.
Among the most concerning substances are PFAS, the so-called “permanent pollutants,” now detected in the blood of almost all humans tested and even in rainwater in many areas of the planet, at levels higher than those considered safe. Furthermore, over 90% of the world’s population breathes air that does not meet WHO standards.
“Many people assume that what we breathe, drink, or apply to our bodies has been thoroughly tested. But that’s simply not the case,” explained Harry Macpherson, senior climate associate at DSV.
In the human body alone, over 3,600 synthetic chemicals from food contact materials have been identified, 80 of which are considered particularly concerning.
The risks are not theoretical. The DSV report lists correlations and causal evidence between exposure to commonly used chemicals and diseases affecting the reproductive, immune, neurological, cardiovascular, hepatic, and renal systems. Exposure to pesticides, for example, has been increasingly linked to fertility problems and miscarriages.
All this occurs while current methods for assessing the toxicity of substances are proving obsolete and inadequate. In particular, the mechanisms of endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which can have effects even at very low doses in a nonlinear and unpredictable manner, are still poorly understood.
“Our traditional testing has ignored many of these effects. We need to rethink our entire approach to chemical safety,” added Macpherson.
A systemic shift: agroecology as a concrete response –
Among the main sources of exposure to toxic chemicals are the pesticides and synthetic fertilizers used in conventional agriculture. To effectively address this crisis, it’s not enough to limit the damage: a radical change in production models is needed.
This is where agroecology comes in, an advanced evolution of organic farming, based on ecological, social, and economic principles. Adopting agroecological systems means drastically reducing the use of chemicals, regenerating soil fertility, preserving biodiversity, and reducing energy consumption along the entire food chain.
The agroecological transition, if supported by appropriate public policies, can represent a structural response to both the chemical pollution crisis and climate change.
An opportunity for innovation and for citizens –
Despite the gravity of the situation, the DSV report emphasizes that there is real scope for a change in direction. Many solutions can also start with consumer choices, which have the power to influence supply through increased demand for safe and sustainable products.
“Large-scale collective action isn’t always necessary: even individual behavior can trigger a change in the market,” says Macpherson.
From choosing safe kitchen materials (like cast iron) to purchasing products free of toxic substances, to consciously consuming organic and agroecologically sourced foods, every step can make a difference.
However, Macpherson himself admits: “Safer products, like organic food, often cost more. But if possible, they’re an important choice. Otherwise, at least wash your fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating them.”
A paradigm shift is needed –
The chemical pollution crisis is not just a matter of individual health, but a systemic problem that requires innovation, new regulations, independent research, and adequate funding.
To date, this sector receives only a fraction of the funds earmarked for combating climate change, a disproportion that—according to DSV—must be urgently addressed.
We need an integrated vision that places the environment, health, and agriculture at the center of public policy. And agroecology, in this scenario, is not a niche: it is a necessary path for the future of the planet.
Guido Bissanti
Bibliography
– Wang, Z., Walker, G. W., Muir, D. C., & Nagatani-Yoshida, K. (2020). Toward a global understanding of chemical pollution: A first comprehensive analysis of global chemical inventories. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(5), 2575–2584. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b06379;
– Landrigan, P. J., et al. (2018). The Lancet Commission on pollution and health. The Lancet, 391(10119), 462–512. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32345-0;
– Cousins, I. T., et al. (2022). Outside the Safe Operating Space of a New Planetary Boundary for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Environmental Science & Technology, 56(16), 11172–11179. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02765;
– US EPA (2024). PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA’s Commitments to Action 2021–2024. https://www.epa.gov/pfas;
– L. (2020). Sicker, Fatter, Poorer: The Urgent Threat of Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals to Our Health and Future and What We Can Do About It.
– Gore, A. C., et al. (2015). EDC-2: The Endocrine Society’s Second Scientific Statement on Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals. Endocrine Reviews, 36(6), E1–E150. DOI: 10.1210/er.2015-1010;
– FAO (2018). The 10 Elements of Agroecology: Guiding the Transition to Sustainable Food and Agricultural Systems. https://www.fao.org/agroecology
– IPES-Food (2016). From Uniformity to Diversity: A Paradigm Shift from Industrial Agriculture to Diversified Agroecological Systems. https://www.ipes-food.org.