A major new report has warned that synthetic chemicals widely used across the global food system are driving soaring rates of cancer, infertility and neurodevelopmental disorders, and are imposing an annual health burden of up to $2.2 trillion.
Published on Wednesday, the report finds that exposure to phthalates, bisphenols, pesticides and PFAS “forever chemicals” is costing societies an amount comparable to the combined profits of the world’s 100 largest publicly listed companies. The authors say even a limited assessment of ecological damage—such as agricultural losses and the cost of meeting water safety standards—adds a further $640 billion.
The study, conducted by dozens of scientists from institutions including the Institute of Preventive Health, the Center for Environmental Health, ChemSec, Duke University and the University of Sussex, was led by a core team at Systemiq. The four chemical groups were chosen because they are “among the most prevalent and best studied worldwide, with robust evidence of harm,” the authors said.
Paediatrician and global public health expert Prof Philip Landrigan of Boston College called the findings a “wake-up call”. “The world really has to wake up and do something about chemical pollution,” he said. “The problem of chemical pollution is every bit as serious as climate change.”
Chemical production has surged more than 200-fold since the 1950s, with more than 350,000 synthetic chemicals now on the global market. Unlike pharmaceuticals, most industrial chemicals face limited safety testing before use, and often little monitoring after.
The report highlights that phthalates and bisphenols, commonly found in food packaging and plastic gloves, as well as pesticides used across industrial agriculture, and PFAS chemicals in greaseproof papers and food containers, have all been linked to hormone disruption, cancers, birth defects, intellectual impairment and obesity. PFAS have also accumulated in air, soil and water, entering food chains worldwide.
Scientists warn the implications could extend to global demographics. If current exposure rates to endocrine disruptors persist, the report estimates 200 million to 700 million fewer births could occur between 2025 and 2100.
Landrigan said decades of paediatric practice have shown a decline in infectious diseases but a sharp rise in non-communicable conditions in children, many linked to chemical exposure. He expressed particular concern about chemicals that impair brain development and endocrine-disrupting compounds such as bisphenols that alter metabolism and increase risks of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
He cautioned that the four chemical groups examined may represent only a fraction of the overall risk. “What scares the hell out of me is the thousands of chemicals to which we’re all exposed every day, about which we know nothing,” he said.
Source: Guardian