Wednesday, September 3, 2025
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
Environmental Magazine
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water
No Result
View All Result
Environmental Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Activism

Chemical pollution is now a direct threat to humanity’s survival

March 26, 2022
in Activism
A A

From plastic to pesticides, substances contaminating the globe have crossed a ‘planetary boundary’ – defined as the point at which human-made change pushes Earth beyond a stable environment. 

Swedish scientists issued the warning as part of a new study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, highlighting there has been a fiftyfold increase in the production of chemicals since 1950. Quantities are expected to triple again by 2050. 

Particular concerns were raised in relation to plastic pollution, which has been found at the summit of Mount Everest and deep in the world’s oceans. Pesticides were also identified as a major issue, with non-target species of insects, many needed to support ecosystems, in danger of being wiped out inadvertently, leading to problems in food production, air and water quality. Toxic chemicals are also posing a significant threat due to their long-lasting nature and ability to spread quickly. 

‘The pace that societies are producing and releasing new chemicals into the environment is not consistent with staying within a safe operating space for humanity,’ said Patricia Villarrubia-Gómez, a member of the study team, PhD candidate and research assistant at the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC). 

‘There’s evidence that things are pointing in the wrong direction every step of the way,’ said Professor Bethanie Carney Almroth at the University of Gothenburg, who was also involved in the team. ‘For example, the total mass of plastics now exceeds the total mass of all living mammals. That to me is a pretty clear indication that we’ve crossed a boundary. We’re in trouble, but there are things we can do to reverse some of this.’

Determining the ‘planetary boundary’ for chemicals is difficult for a number of reasons. Firstly, there is no record of levels prior to human impact in the way pre-industrial CO2 emissions are gauged. Secondly, a huge number of chemicals are licensed for use, some 350,000, but only a small percentage have been fully assessed for environmental safety. 

Those involved in the research have pointed to the importance of circular economies – where materials and products are reused rather than discarded – as imperative steps to reverse the trend. In addition, a more precautionary approach to regulation is necessary in terms of what substances are approved for use, where and when. 

In 2019, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) proposed widespread restrictions on the use of microplastics in cosmetics, paints, detergents, and medical equipment, but faced significant opposition from the chemicals industry. 

Photo credit: Dimitry Anikin

 

ShareTweetSharePinSendShare

Related Articles

Activism

Leaving EPA Behind, Environmental Justice Pioneer Preaches Hope Amid Trump Cutbacks

September 2, 2025
Activism

How a Rock Band Bassist Is Remixing Climate Activism

September 1, 2025
Activism

The Woman Holding Chinese Mining Giants Accountable

August 24, 2025
Activism

Citing Environmental Concerns, Judge Orders Alligator Alcatraz to Wind Down Operations

August 22, 2025
Activism

Colombia’s President Called Out an Alabama Company’s Coal Exports to Israel. Now Alabamians Are Protesting

August 22, 2025
Activism

Alabama Town’s Residents Seek Preemptive Strike Against Massive Data Center Project

August 20, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Warsaw votes for Clean Transport Zone

January 12, 2024

As Chemical Industry Seeks Exemption From Pollution Limits, Residents See Assault on Their Lives

April 7, 2025

Don't miss it

Fossil Fuels

Dozens of Scientists Call DOE Climate Report ‘Fundamentally Incorrect’

September 2, 2025
News

Alarming levels of microplastic pollution revealed by Hampshire chalk stream study

September 2, 2025
Fossil Fuels

With New Jersey Still Reeling From Summer Storms, Fossil Fuel Interests Fight ‘Climate Superfund’ Bill

August 31, 2025
Energy

As Trump Pushes Liquified Natural Gas Exports, Residents in Pennsylvania Towns Push Back to Stop a Proposed LNG Terminal

August 30, 2025
Climate Change

Settlement Signed in Texas v. New Mexico Rio Grande Case

August 29, 2025
Fossil Fuels

Texas Suit Alleging Anti-Coal ‘Cartel’ of Top Wall Street Firms Could Reshape ESG—and Wall Street Itself

August 29, 2025
Environmental Magazine

Environmental Magazine, Latest News, Opinions, Analysis Environmental Magazine. Follow us for more news about Enviroment and climate change from all around the world.

Learn more

Sections

  • Activism
  • Air
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Fossil Fuels
  • News
  • Uncategorized
  • Water

Topics

Activism Air Climate Change Energy Fossil Fuels News Uncategorized Water

Recent News

Dozens of Scientists Call DOE Climate Report ‘Fundamentally Incorrect’

September 2, 2025

Alarming levels of microplastic pollution revealed by Hampshire chalk stream study

September 2, 2025

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Climate Change
  • Energy
  • Recycling
  • Air
  • Fossil Fuels
  • Water

© 2023 Environmental Magazine. All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.