Humanity is exceeding the level of synthetic chemical production the Earth can handle without negatively affecting the global processes upon which human life depends, according to a peer-reviewed study by Linn Persson and coauthors from the Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden. In the study, published in Environmental Science & Technology on January 18, 2022, the authors document global hazards from the over-production and release of substances, called “novel entities,” such as pesticides, industrial chemicals, and chemicals in consumer products. The paper focuses on chemical pollution as a whole with plastic pollution a particularly important division within it.
Some novel entities can persist in the environment for years or decades, eventually circulating globally (FPF reported). In addition, these pollutants have demonstrated “negative impacts on Earth systems, including biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles.” The authors state that even if we immediately began to reduce production of novel entities, “the effects due to our transgression of the planetary boundary will still be a threat.”
A planetary boundary threat is defined as something (i) ubiquitous, (ii) not easily reversible, and that (iii) disrupts vital Earth systems. According to the authors, there are 350,000 registered chemicals on the market, and the rate by which new chemicals are added makes it impossible for government bodies to assess or control the associated problems.
The authors call for immediate action to reduce the production and release of pollutants. Recommended actions include changing material and product designs (FPF reported, also here and here), designing products for recycling (FPF reported, also here), and better screening chemicals for their safety and circularity (FPF reported, also here). According to Persson et al., “we also need to be working towards implementing a fixed cap on chemical production and release, in the same way we have moved towards fixed caps of greenhouse gases to try to control climate change.”
A review by Hans Peter Arp et al. published in May 2021, presented evidence that plastic pollution fulfills the criteria to be considered a planetary boundary threat (FPF reported). In that review, Arp wrote the “boundary threshold for environmental plastics could be crossed before it is known.” We may not be able to say if we are past the planetary boundary for environmental plastics, but Persson et al. found the planet is indeed already beyond the threshold for the chemical pollution from plastics and other synthetic products.
At every step of the life cycle of novel entities, chemicals may be released that can cause human and environmental harm (FPF reported). There is a growing call among researchers and governments for the creation of an international science-policy body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to oversee chemicals and waste (FPF reported). The nations Costa Rica, Ghana, Mali, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay plan to submit a resolution to do just that at the next United Nations Environmental Assembly meeting in February 2022.
References
Persson, L., et al. (2022). “Outside the Safe Operating Space of the Planetary Boundary for Novel Entities.” Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04158
Arp, HPH., et al. (2021). “Weathering Plastics as a Planetary Boundary Threat: Exposure, Fate, and Hazards.” Environmental Science and Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01512
Read More
Rebecca Altman (January 3, 2022). “How Bad Are Plastics, Really?” The Atlantic
Groh, K., et al. (2022). “Anthropogenic Chemicals As Underestimated Drivers of Biodiversity Loss: Scientific and Societal Implications.” Environmental Science & Technology. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08399
Geneva Environment Network (December 9, 2021). “Developing a Global Science-Policy Body on Chemicals and Waste.”
Damian Carrington (January 18, 2022). “Chemical pollution has passed safe limit for humanity, say scientists.” The Guardian
