GREEN

European hazardous industry: every 1.4 seconds a harmful substance is released into the atmosphere

The whole of Europe is now covered in extremely harmful chemicals produced en masse by the continent's companies and industries, counting the entire supply chain. Every 1.4 seconds, in fact, the world industry develops a new compound and every year 1000 new substances are introduced to the market.

The Italian Society of Endocrinology (Sie), from the congress taking place in Rome these days, has launched an appeal to the European Commission to extend the list of banned harmful chemicals in order to prevent damage for future generations.

This congress is pushing for a revolution in the immediate list of substances, in order to avoid more serious consequences especially for the most vulnerable, such as pregnant women and children.

Freepik
Europe invaded by chemicals
The whole of Europe is now covered in extremely harmful chemicals produced en masse by the continent's companies and industries, counting the entire supply chain. Every 1.4 seconds, in fact, the world industry develops a new compound and every year 1000 new substances are introduced to the market.
Freepik
The Italian Society of Endocrinology (Sie).
The Italian Society of Endocrinology (Sie), from the congress taking place in Rome these days, has launched an appeal to the European Commission to extend the list of banned harmful chemicals in order to prevent damage for future generations.
Freepik
An immediate revolution
This congress is pushing for a revolution in the immediate list of substances in order to avoid more serious consequences especially for the most vulnerable, such as pregnant women and children.
Freepik
Eurostat estimates
Speaking of the European Union alone, over 300 million tonnes of chemicals are produced every year, and 200,000 different types are consumed. Calculating, that would be around 12,000 substances that are considered harmful to people's health or to the ecosystem. Most worryingly, these substances are present in three out of four widely used products, from nappies to paints to cleaning products.
Freepik
What are most of these substances
Most of the chemicals produced by industries can be classified as endocrine disruptors, i.e. compounds that alter the functioning of the endocrine system and the balance of hormones in the body, with detrimental effects on the health of everyone regardless of age and gender, such as congenital malformations, neurodevelopmental or reproductive disorders, cancers, diabetes and obesity.
Freepik
The harms of these substances and where they are found
Bisphenols, phthalates and perfluoroalkyls (PFAS, the chemicals in question), can be found in many everyday objects such as packaging, plastic bottles and toys. But there is not only the loss of human and animal lives (already a tremendous cost in itself). These chemicals also cause a tidal wave of economic costs that are borne by EU citizens: some estimates have linked exposures to the substances to around EUR 157 billion in actual health costs and lost earning potential.
Freepik
The official request
Some 2,000 substances have been banned in the European Union over the past 13 years, but this is still not enough. In fact, an appeal has been made to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen to update, during this term of the European Parliament and Commission, Regulation 1907/2006 Reach, which deals with the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals on the continent.
Informativa ai sensi della Direttiva 2009/136/CE: questo sito utilizza solo cookie tecnici necessari alla navigazione da parte dell'utente in assenza dei quali il sito non potrebbe funzionare correttamente.