Why global warming might not be our biggest problem.
Carbon is not our biggest problem.
FACT: Our atmosphere is warming at an augmented pace because of carbon released into our atmosphere by burning fossil fuels which is in turn causing some devastating and lethal weather patterns.
FACT: Our planet has the biological means to recapture this carbon. It just needs a break from the onslaught to capture enough to balance things out. Once we take serious measures to reduce carbon output and/or put artificial recapture into practice, our warming/cooling trends will return to their normal patterns.
FACT: Volatile compounds, micro-plastics, PFAS, and other "forever" chemicals have permeated our entire ecosystem leading to growing environmental toxicity.
FACT: Our planet does not have the biological means to render these pollutants inert, therefore the levels of these toxic compounds continue to rise and the health of our ecosystem, and subsequently our own health, is being impacted as a result.
Environmental toxicity: Just how big of a problem is it?
Rising levels of environmental toxicity has led to significant health risks worldwide, with developing countries facing heightened risks due to poverty, insufficient investment in modern technology, and weak environmental laws. Recent studies estimate that environmental toxicity accounts for approximately 8–9% of the global disease burden, with this figure significantly higher in developing countries.
Linking pollution to disease is not as easy as you would think.
Linking environmental pollution to specific health outcomes is challenging. While certain pollutants may lead to various health issues, most diseases aren't solely caused by a single pollutant. Long latency periods, cumulative exposure, and the synergistic effects of multiple pollutants further complicate efforts to pinpoint health impacts. The variability in exposure levels, lack of comprehensive monitoring, and the different ways pollutants affect people contribute to this complexity.
Different types of environmental toxins:
Air Pollution
- Transportation: Emissions from cars, trucks, and other vehicles release pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter, contributing to smog and respiratory issues.
- Industrial Emissions: Factories and power plants release pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contribute to acid rain, ground-level ozone, and particulate pollution.
- Household Energy Use: In many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries, indoor pollution from burning solid fuels (like wood, coal, and crop residues) for cooking and heating is a major source of air pollution, exposing people to harmful particulates and gases.
Water Pollution
- Industrial Discharges: Factories release heavy metals, chemicals, and other contaminants directly into rivers, lakes, and oceans, affecting drinking water and aquatic ecosystems.
- Agricultural Runoff: Fertilizers and pesticides from farming wash into water bodies, causing nutrient pollution, which can lead to algal blooms and "dead zones" in bodies of water.
- Wastewater: Untreated or inadequately treated wastewater contains pathogens, nutrients, and chemicals, polluting water sources and contributing to waterborne diseases.
Soil Contamination
- Pesticides and Herbicides: The use of chemicals in agriculture contaminates soil, which can be absorbed by crops and affect food safety.
- Industrial Waste: Improper disposal of hazardous waste from factories can introduce toxic substances like heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and hydrocarbons into the soil.
- Mining Activities: Extraction processes release toxic metals and acids, contaminating soil and water around mining sites.
Chemical Waste
- Household Chemicals: Everyday products like cleaning agents, paints, and personal care products contain chemicals that can enter waterways and soil, affecting wildlife and potentially entering the food chain.
- Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs): Improper disposal of medications and the runoff from personal care products can contribute to water pollution, with substances like hormones and antibiotics affecting aquatic ecosystems and potentially human health.
Waste Mismanagement
- Landfills: Decomposing waste releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and can leach toxic chemicals into groundwater.
- Plastic Pollution: Plastics break down into microplastics, which are ingested by marine life and can end up in the food chain, posing health risks to humans and animals alike.
- Electronic Waste (E-Waste): Discarded electronics contain heavy metals and hazardous chemicals that contaminate soil and water when not properly recycled.
The dangers of naïve exposure:
Unregulated, gratuitous use of chemicals and unmanaged waste practices have created a perfect storm of circumstances that have led to a living environment that is growing more and more toxic for our bodies. The worst part is that we are mostly unaware of it. After all, the salmon at your local grocery store doesn’t have a chemical profile on its label that lists out levels of certain contaminants and that brand new, memory foam mattress pad doesn't come with instructions to bring in fresh air for the first few weeks. So, even though certain levels of exposure to some of these compounds are considered safe, we should still apply pressure to motivate industries to seek out healthier alternatives and/or proper labeling because environmental toxicity is rising quickly. We need to act now so our kids and grandkids can be as healthy and happy as possible.
Read: why everything needs a warning label
Maybe one day we’ll have a pocket scanner that can give us a chemical readout of whatever we point it at. Until then, we have to rely on some very smart people like Dr. Lue Wang, (who is actually developing such a device), to uncover these truths for us. What we can do now is make little adjustments to our lifestyles to minimize our exposure to, and contribution to, environmental toxicity.
Below are some ways that I reduce my exposure to volatile natural or synthetic compounds.
Brian’s little lifestyle adjustments:
The things I do for me:
I avoid spraying fragrances directly on my skin:
- I admit, I am a sucker for a nice fragrance. I avoid spraying them onto my skin, however, because they contain various natural compounds that are known to be potential irritants and/or allergens. EVERY FRAGRANCE DOES.
I do not put plastic in the microwave:
- This one I learned from my dad who was a chemist who worked in plastics way back when. I remember seeing a kid at school wrap a potato in plastic wrap and microwave it and VOILA! A quick baked potato! When I got home, I decided to try it myself. My dad was there when I opened the microwave and he said “why don’t you smoke a hundred packs of cigarettes, filter, and all, and then eat all of your Legos while you are at it" I decided against eating the potato. When you heat plastic, especially foam or flexible plastics, you infuse whatever food you have within the container with plasticizers.
I limit contact with essential oils:
- As someone who grew up in a world of natural soaps and essential oils, I can tell you that since I stopped using these things, I no longer have skin sensitivity. My highly reactive skin as a kid was partly induced by regular exposure to these things but we didn’t know any better. We were told that “natural” was better and “chemicals” were bad, and we believed it! Now we know it’s not that simple, don’t we? You're welcome.
I drink reverse osmosis water:
- I would bet my left little toe that the city of Atlanta municipality water treatment facility does not have the ability to remove every trace of chemical contamination from our water supply. I take my 3-gallon sized, BPA free jug to whole foods with me and fill it up every couple weeks. It is worth the trouble, and it tastes amazing.
I limit my seafood intake:
- PFAS and plasticizers build up in the fatty tissues of fish. These chemicals have been discovered in alarming concentrations in farm raised salmon especially.
I try to keep my rinse-off products from getting near my eyes and mouth:
- As I mentioned in the FRP chart above, higher levels of preservatives are allowed to be in rinse-off products. When I rinse off my shampoo or conditioner, I turn and tilt my head backward to keep any product from getting near my mouth and eyes.
I do not eat or drink from Styrofoam:
- This includes the so-called biodegradable Viofoam which comes with a whole other set of issues. Learn about that here.
I wear a mask and gloves when I work with coatings or paints:
- I wear some thick 14mm latex gloves when I work with any chemical, especially those that are solubilized by acetone, xylene, or oil solvents because they will solubilize my lipid barrier as well.
I support complete-nitrogen-cycle organic farming:
- It is hard to find a farm that grows its food on the same land that they raise their cattle, but they do exist, and these sustainable practices can reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers.
I give my food a bath:
- I give my fruits and vegetables a soak in some water, white vinegar, and some food grade hydrogen peroxide.
I avoid non-stick cookware:
- I love a high-tech coating as much as the next nerd, but I'll enjoy them on my car, not my cookware, thank you very much.
I look for bedding, clothing, and furniture that is manufactured sustainably from natural fibers.
- Flax linen, Organic cotton, Lyocell, and Pinatex to name a few are materials that do not off gas toxic solvents and plasticizers into the air. They also do not shed microplastics into the wash.
- It isn't enough for me to choose the materials for what they are made from. I need to choose them based on HOW they were made. I choose organic cotton over cotton that was grown with the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. I choose durable, yet biodegradable fabrics like organic flax linen or hemp that requires very little irrigation and grows in soil that isn't suitable for other nutrient hungry crops. Instead of bamboo viscose which takes an enormous amount of water and some pretty heavy chemicals to make, I look for more sustainably produced Tencel Lyocell which has a closed loop system. Instead of leather, I look for alternatives like Pinatex, one of the most sustainable textiles of them all.
I buy low VOC paints and coatings whenever possible ESPECIALLY for interior use.
- High performing yet less toxic paint alternatives are coming out all the time. I try to do a little research before I go shopping for them.
The things I do for everyone else:
I dispose of my waste responsibly:
- I NEVER put old electronics, paint, any other coatings, or batteries in the trash. These items are a MEGA source of all kinds of problematic chemicals. I take my electronics, paints, plastics, and any other items that my municipality will not take, to the Center For Hard To Recycle Materials. Find the equivalent organization near you.
I patronize businesses who employ sustainable practices:
- If I order takeout from somewhere (which I try not to do) and they hand me food that is wrapped in compostable packaging and without any single-use-plastics, then I will be back again and again, even if I’m not crazy about the food.
I avoid business who don't:
- Because it is on trend, more and more companies are exploiting the “green” movement as a way to generate sales all the while creating bigger problems behind the scenes. Investigate your favorite brands a little to see just how serious they are about protecting our future.
Oh, and this is a big one:
Now I sincerely hope that you go forth and embark upon the most quality of days.
MBM
Yes, I needed to read up on this topic as I am not an environmental scientist. Here are my sources:
British Medical Bulletin on the global burden of disease due to environmental pollution, particularly in developing countries: https://academic.oup.com/bmb/article/68/1/99/283610(
Environmental Health journal's meta-synthesis on the impact of environmental factors on health outcomes, with data on Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) and deaths attributable to pollution: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1476-069X-13-37(
World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Observatory data, detailing the links between pollution and non-communicable diseases, and the percentage of global deaths due to environmental risks: https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/4704(
World Health Organization (WHO)
Our World in Data's research on the effects of air pollution, including statistics on deaths and DALYs related to air pollution globally: https://ourworldindata.org/air-pollution(
The BMJ article on the relationship between environmental pollution and non-communicable diseases, discussing various risk factors and the financial and health costs associated with pollution: https://www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1627
