Harmful Chemicals in our Environment

Over the past century humans have introduced a large number of chemical substances into the environment. Some are the waste from industrial and agricultural processes. Some have been designed as structural materials and others have been designed to perform various functions such as healing the sick or killing pests and weeds. Obviously some chemicals are useful but many are toxic and their harm to the environment and our health far outweighs their benefit to society. We need to manage the risks better by only using chemicals, which are safe.

The impact of human activities on the environment is complex and affects a chain of interconnecting ecosystems. The extinction of species all along the chain may mean the loss of useful genetic material or life saving cancer drugs or safer alternatives to the dangerous chemicals in use at the moment.

Conclusion


Potentially dangerous chemicals such as these are being introduced into the environment all the time. As in the case of PCBs their effect on living things may not be known until many years after their release. Hundreds of thousands of different chemicals are marketed worldwide. Of these 5000 are produced in quantities over 10 tonnes a year and 1500 are produced in quantities over 1000 tonnes year.
We do not have enough information about the environmental effects of these industrial chemicals and their effects on humans. The balance between human activity and ecological sustainability is wrong.

What you can do

·         Use biodegradable products. Make your own cleaning agent using safe materials. Dispose of chemical waste carefully. Do not put them down the sink. Be wise with home maintenance and in the garden. Do not burn plastics.

·         Avoid all organic chemicals that have "chloro" as part of their names including wood preservatives, herbicides and insecticides. Avoid chlorine bleach (sodium hypochlorite) and products containing it. Use oxygen bleach instead. Use unbleached paper products.Avoid "Permethrin" flea sprays for pets. Avoid products made of or packaged in polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Avoid cling flim plastic wraps unless they are clearly identified as non-chlorinated plastic.

·         To minimise your risk of dioxins accumulating in your body avoid all full-fat dairy products and fatty meats such as beef or pork. Wash all fruits and vegetables to remove chlorophenol pesticide residue. Avoid grapes and raisins unless they are clearly labelled as organically grown. Avoid soaps, toothpaste and deodorants containing "triclosan," a chlorophenol.

·         We can reduce the dioxins if we stop producing PVCs and other chlorinated chemicals. If your local government sends its waste to an incinerator, request that they stop burning plastics and introduce a comprehensive recycling service. Write to companies and ask them to use safe substitutes to chlorinated plastics. Ask your supermarket to sell Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) products. Join or form a local environmental group campaigning against hazardous chemicals.

·         People who work with cadmium should take care not to inhale cadmium-containing dust and should avoid carrying it home from work on their clothes, skin or hair. Eat from a wide range of foods to prevent the risk of ingesting toxic levels of cadmium.