From Ukraine to Gaza
Their very own Bert van Bavel has developed a test to measure a person’s chemical ‘body burden,’ i.e. the amounts of POPs that accumulate in the body.
Arguably more worrying are the many toxic chemicals, known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs), that have been kicking around in our bloodstream for decades.
The UN Environmental Programme has established a global awareness campaign, Safe Planet, which aims to monitor the levels of toxic chemicals in the global population.
With chemical pollution crossing the ‘planetary boundary,’ meaning it threatens the planet just as much as climate change and habitat loss, POPs are coming into the limelight.
Since 2010, the test has been carried out on more than 100,000 people across Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Southern Asia.
This may sound very alarming, and perhaps it is. For the time being, however, there has been no confirmation that microplastics cause any direct harm to human health.
In March 2022, scientists published a study confirming they had found microplastics in human blood for the first time ever.
The study was done on a small scale–only 22 people were tested–but it found that 80% of participants had blood containing microplastic fragments.
The test is designed to pick up POPs that can persist in the body for more than 20, 30, or even 50 years. Indeed, results often show the presence of POPs that have been banned for decades.
According to van Bavel, we all have a "toxic cocktail" in our bodies, but the presence and high level of certain chemicals is more worrying than others.
The test results of one BBC journalist, for example, showed traces of DDE, a metabolite of the pesticide DDT that has not been used since the 1970s.
PFAS are used in many everyday products that repel dirt and water, such as waterproof clothing, stain-resistant textiles, and non-stick cooking utensils.
But the impact is also complex. According to Anna Lennquist, who is a senior toxicologist at the environmental NGO ChemSec, "Chemicals are working in many different ways in your body…”
“... some chemicals have delayed effects, for example ones that interact with our hormone systems.”
"If you are exposed in the womb or during puberty, the effects can turn up many years later, even decades later, perhaps as breast cancers or different metabolic disorders."
It is also the case that we are always exposed to more than one chemical at a time, and that the toxic cocktail effect can complicate things further.
Some chemicals may enhance the effect of others, and some compounds can work against each other.
Unfortunately, there is not much we can do as individuals to minimize or reduce our own chemical burden. These compounds are everywhere; they are impossible to avoid.
We can, however, support legislation and UN conventions that seek to remove these hazardous compounds from circulation.
According to one BBC article, at the time of writing, the EU has proposed restrictions on around 12,000 substances.
The European Environmental Bureau has described these proposed restrictions as the world’s “largest ever ban on toxic chemicals.”
"With pressure from consumers and everyone else within the supply chain, the chemical manufacturing industry could shift much more rapidly.”
"We can all use our voice by demanding greater transparency, clearer labeling and stricter regulation.”
"And reducing toxic chemical pollution is not only good for business, but for every one of us and future generations."
Sources: (BBC) (PBS)
See also: Silent killer: The hidden dangers of carbon monoxide
Researchers are beginning to pay attention to the fact that hazardous chemicals used in products such as flame retardants and pesticides can linger inside us for many years.
As the field of chemical pollution research gains ground, researchers are turning their attention to toxic chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These so-called POPs can enter our bloodstream and linger, sometimes for as long as decades. This is a matter of particular concern because POPs are everywhere; they are used in many day-to-day products.
As part of the effort to combat the effect of POPs, one researcher has developed a test that allows us to see the amounts of POPs that accumulate in our bodies. Check out this gallery to learn about your chemical body burden.
The dangers of the toxic chemicals invading our bodies every day
Rising exposure linked to increased cancer risks and birth defects
LIFESTYLE Pollutants
As the field of chemical pollution research gains ground, researchers are turning their attention to toxic chemicals known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These so-called POPs can enter our bloodstream and linger, sometimes for as long as decades. This is a matter of particular concern because POPs are everywhere; they are used in many day-to-day products.
As part of the effort to combat the effect of POPs, one researcher has developed a test that allows us to see the amounts of POPs that accumulate in our bodies. Check out this gallery to learn about your chemical body burden.