Global framework urgently needed to assess emerging health risks of novel chemicals, experts say
Over the past century, humanity has invented a dizzying array of novel chemicals for industrial, commercial and domestic use. These synthetic chemicals have been manufactured and released into the world with little caution for the harm they might cause to human health or to ecosystems that we depend on for life as we know it. […]
A global framework is urgently required to evaluate the emerging health risks associated with novel chemicals, according to experts. Over the past century, humanity has developed a vast array of synthetic chemicals for various purposes, with little regard for potential harm to human health or ecosystems. As of 2020, an estimated 350,000 synthetic chemicals had been registered for production, and knowledge regarding their health effects is limited.
Philip Landrigan, a public health physician and director of a global public health organization, highlights that comprehensive data on health effects is available for only 30 to 40 of these chemicals. Despite this, numerous chemicals have been rushed to market, often causing unforeseen toxicological consequences. Examples include thalidomide's association with birth defects, DDT's impact on ecosystems and associated cancers, and the dangers posed by polychlorinated biphenyls.
Experts view this as an iceberg scenario, with only a small portion of the issue visible above the surface. The history of the chemical industry demonstrates a pattern of prioritizing rapid chemical development over thorough safety assessments, raising concerns about the long-term implications of unregulated chemical exposure.
Written by urgent.news from Mongabay's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
