Chemical pervasiveness

Chemicals found in every part of the globe and found in many life forms, with uncertain consequences

Human action (non-chemical) affects environment

Human action can affect the environment and perhaps make it less resilient so that when chemicals are present they can possibly be more toxic. Smith et al, (2018) (Smith et al, Body size downgrading of mammals over the late Quaternary, Science 360, 31-313 (2018) April 20) documented how human predation systematically targeted the largest mammalian species and, since “megafauna have a disproportionate influence on ecosystem structure and function, past and present body size downgrading is reshapi...

Ignorance

Many studies emphasize the high level of ignorance we have regarding how chemicals interact with the environment, whether lifeforms are affected by chemicals and if so, the degree of harm resulting, the mechanisms of action of harm, and possible processes to reduce or eliminate harm.

If the scientists are ignorant, how can the chemical industy and CMP be so certain of safety.

Chemical Production Increasing

In 1945 chemicals production was XXXX, in 2000 it was XXXX, an increase of YY%; in 2015 it was XXXX and by 2030 it is projected to be XXXX tonnes.

Climate change consequences

CC, apart from the multitude of consequences that are anticipated to occur in the next decades, will also have an effect on how chemicals are degraded, how they are exposed to the world, how they are carried around the globe, and how they may interact with life. As well as new chemicals being produced and being spread, many ‘old’ chemicals which have been stored and/or sequestered may be released because of storms and catastrophe.

Population growth

Population is a key driver of economic demand. It is anticipated to increase from 7 billion today to 10 billion by 2050. Many of these will be in the third world; however, an important factor is that the size of the global middle class will rise from 1-3 billion people, together with a concomitant rise in material demand. The mass increase in population will lead to a rising demand for food, and hence pesticides and other agrichemicals; however it is the rise of the global middle class that will lead to more demand for material products, which means more chemicals production.

A global problem with local perspectives

The issue of chemical pollution has a global perspective; however, it must be addressed locally as well as advocated for globally. Much of nature functions by acting locally, but in a mass effect (e.g. consider pollination— each flower must be visited by some pollinating insect, which can cover only a small area, and yet the whole world blooms.

Why bother

The earth is failing. Dead zones, climate change, loss of biodiversity, ocean acidification, loss of pollinators and birds.
Changes are non-linear
Phenology means things are out of sync. 
People are getting sick: obesity, cancers, neurodevelopmental disorders, ?autism, diabetes, 
Our global ecological footprint is now approaching 2, and for Canada it is closer to 6. 


Proof is hard to come by

Much of the concern regarding the effects of chemicals on the environment is circumstantial and largely undeterminable; however, the consequences can be unaccepably harsh for both the environment and for human health.

Human Diseases linked to chemicals

EDC: IQ loss, intellectual disability, ADHD, autism, obesity, adult diabetes, cryptorchidism, male infertility, reduced testosterone. neurobehavioral disorders, 
Air Pollution: asthma, lung cancer, COPD, 
Lead: intellectual disability, low IQ, 
Mercury: 
Congenital anomalies, childhood cancers,