Scientists call for UN-led treaty to regulate rampant chemical production & safeguard children’s health
Many researchers in leading global institutions are expressing concern in the continued manufacture and use of synthetic chemicals in various industries and products, which are highly dangerous to the health of human especially young children. Instead, a group of more than 25 researchers from 17 universities in the United States and Europe urged to conclude a binding international treaty under the auspices of the United Nations to regulate the chemical industry and children’s health.
For the most part, synthetic chemicals are derived from fossil fuels, and their manufacture has risen steeply since the 1950s and is expected to treble by 2050. Industrial chemicals often avoid this kind of scrutiny, in contrast to medicines, which go through stringent testing and post-market monitoring prior to market clearance. What this has meant is that many chemicals gross the market without proper safety trials and this can be dangerous to human health.
The scientists advocate for a chemical treaty that would bar producers of this chemicals to place them in the market under certain circumstances without first having them tested and cleared by an independent body. This approach would mirror the stringent regulations applied to prescription drugs, ensuring that chemicals and plastics are not toxic at anticipated levels of exposure. The treaty would also require post-market follow-up to determine late consequences of ill health, as is the case with drugs.
Paediatric sub-population is at a higher risk of deleterious effects of synthetic chemicals since their bodies are still growing and have higher exposure level on their body weight. Research also indicates that troubles such as chronic diseases, developmental impairments and other defects can be originated from the effects of certain chemicals on the children. The scientists also work towards changing a global treaty towards protecting children’s health and the future impacts of chemicals used on them.
The Effect on Children’s Health
Global concerns relate to child health and several aspects that define the welfare of youngsters, but in today’s world hazardous chemical compounds are increasingly making their ways into the environment which is alarming for children. These are chemicals that are present in numerous manufactured articles including food containers, toys, detergents and synthetic beauty products and may cause effects that are not easily detected or may manifest after months or even years.
Exposure to Harmful Chemicals
Because children’s physical and behavioural developments are in a crucial stage, they are easily exposed to chemical hazards. For example, whilst playing children can bite things, crawl and play with any object of their choice. Such behaviors make people get exposed to hazardous chemicals, found in dust, soil, and various consumer products.
Health risks caused by chemical exposure
Chemical exposure impacts children in many areas of their body and affects their health significantly. A number of chemical substances may cause chronic illnesses, developmental abnormalities, and other diseases. Chemicals like:
- Phthalates and Bisphenol A (BPA): Some of these chemicals are likely to be found in lots of plastics and food packaging materials can disrupt endocrine functions and accord developmental and reproductive complications.
- Lead: Lead that is usually found in old paints and contaminated soils results in cognitive loss and developmental postponements.
- Pesticides: pesticides employed in agricultural and pest management are hazardous to children’s neuronal functions and lead to behavioural disorders.
- Flame Retardants: Some chemicals used in furniture and electronics for fire resistance, have had effects such as hormonal interferences, and hurtful impacts on the nervous system.
Cognitive and Behavioural Consequences
When children are exposed to chemicals, some of the effects of major concern include those on cognition and behaviour. Prenatal and early childhood exposure to neurotoxins has developmental impact on the brain and can cause low intelligence quotient (IQ), poor learning disability, and other behavioural problems including ADHD and ASD. These conditions can cause long standing deficits in the academic productivity of the child, deficits in social competence, poor quality of life.
Physical Health Consequences
Besides, there are effects on cognitive and behavioural development; chemical exposure can cause physical illnesses. Many people have complained of respiratory complaints like asthma and allergies due to indoor pollutants and environmental chemicals. Moreover, some of the chemicals are responsible for the rising obesity and metabolic disease in children because they affect hormonal balance and metabolism.
The Strong Call for Regulation
The rate of industrialization and development of technology in the last hundred years has boosted the generation and application of synthetic chemicals. These chemicals are encountered daily in products as diverse as plastics, pesticides, drugs, and detergents and are now essential to post-industrial societies. Nonetheless, the use of such products has surged, and most of the times are not properly regulated; this has implications on human health and the environment prompting the need for more regulations.
Health and Environment impacts
Of all the effects posed by synthetic chemicals one of the most important is their effect on human health. Of the thousands of chemicals used today, several have been associated with numerous health complaints including; cancers, reproductive abilities and development complications, neurological and respiratory disorders, hormonal dysfunctions. For instance, BPA and several phthalates are used in plastics the use of which is likely to disrupt hormones and trigger health complications that are more severe in the vulnerable population including children and pregnant women.
However, the strike point of the synthetic chemical is the environmental burden of the chemical product. Some of the gaseous and liquid pollutants discharged into the environment have high levels of half-banks which results to pollution of the surrounding environment and food chain. For instance, many pesticides have negative effects on non-target organism such as pollinators, birds and aquatic life forms; this has greatly affected the balance of diverse species in an ecosystem. Another emergent problem is the daily new concentrations of micro-plastics in oceans and other water supplies that are consumed by creatures and can get into people’s food chain in due course.
Lack of and Ineffective Current Laws
Nevertheless, risk control measures for chemical production and use are frequently insufficient and vary from one country to another. Most products containing chemicals are commercially available without undergoing rigorous toxicological evaluation, while some regulatory requirements for specific chemicals differ, compromising safety rates. For some time though, economic and political factors may lead to weak regulatory measures and inadequate scrutiny.
For instance the chemical industry has a record of influencing government not to enact tighter laws due to effects on the economy that may result to loss of job offers. It can hinder the cause of implementing different measures which provide protection to health of the people and environment to the public. Furthermore, there may be internal politics in those agencies that delay appropriate action towards chemical pollution as well as other health concerns.
The Role of a Global Treaty
Since chemical production and trade is international, there is need for a coordinated approach towards the regulation of synthetic chemical. It is where the idea of having an international legally binding instrument under the United Nations comes in handy. For a treaty of this nature, chemical companies would need to provide evidence that their products were safe, prior to their market release.
Also, international rules would also require further assessment after the marketing of chemicals and products to watch out for the impact on health and the environment if any so that a remedy may be sought immediately. Through integrating a set of mainstream legal norms, the treaty would be stop the pernicious chemicals sending to countries with inferior legislation and foster the global cooperation concerning chemical dangers.
Vulnerable populations
Children, women especially those that are in their pregnancies and those with chronic illnesses are most affected by manmade chemicals. With the strong legal system a priority should be given to these groups of people by ensuring that chemicals in normal, day to day products such as food wraps, detergents and the likes does not harm any of the bulk of population whether they are young or adults with a number of health complications.
Implementing Change for Environmental Conserving
Lastly, regulation is equally important in encouraging new products and better substituted for hazardous chemicals. Thus, politicians who introduce ambitious legislation on safety standards actually encourage the chemical industry to invest in ideas of green chemistry and environmentally friendly materials. This can result into innovative environmental products that are not chemically hazardous and are likely to enhance the health of the public.
Precautionary measures and policies
Now let’s looks at the precautionary measures and policies and adequate strategies that can be used to protect the public health and the environment from the impacts of synthetic chemicals. Since the participation of these chemicals remains on the livestock, food consumption, and other corresponding activities, there is a need to establish the proper measures to manage such future risks effectively.
Regulation and Legislation
The best way to eliminate or minimize risk exposure arising from synthetic chemicals is by proper regulation and legislation. It is the government’s job to ensure that proper policies and regulations are in place to curb the utilization and abuse of the chemicals by societies. This includes:
- Pre-market Testing: It means making the requirements as to the safety of those products so stringent that manufacturers would have to conduct extensive, independent tests to prove their products’ safety before they become available to the public. This approach helps CHECK and permits only safe chemical to be used.
- Post-market Surveillance: Setting mechanisms of deleterious effects of chemical substances on health and the surrounding environment once they are released into the market. This makes one to recognize and correct any unfavourable effects that may surface in the long run.
- Banning Harmful Substances: Banning chemicals that are likely to have severe consequences on the lives of human beings and the physical environment. This includes Regulated consumer chemicals which comprise of some pesticides, flame retardants and endocrine disruptors.
Education and Awareness
Education on the possible hazards of chemicals and efforts towards use of safer chemicals are important in addressing the dangers faced. Educational campaigns can inform consumers about:
- Reading Labels: Promoting the values in the culture by which clients are informed by reading and interpreting information on the packaging as to which chemicals are harmful to the body.
- Safe Practices: Teaching students on safety measures on how to deal with chemicals, storing and dumping of chemicals in an environmentally friendly way.
- Safer Alternatives: Encouraging consumers to use green products with no toxic substances in their production processes. It is worth noting that it can generate demand for safer options and producers into coming up with and marketing safer goods.
Research and Innovation
Increased funding in research is needed to create barriers to toxic substances and to increase the knowledge of their effects. Key areas of focus include:
- Green Chemistry: Promoting the synthesis of novel substances as well as the generation of useful products which could be obtained from green chemistry methods. This means control of the creation and application of hazardous materials in products and processes which is focused on product and process design for the prevention of environmental harm.
- Toxicology Research: Fostering increased studies of the effects of toxic chemicals of individuals and the ecology. This ranges from understanding the effects of low and chronic exposure, specific to population like children and pregnant woman.
International Collaboration
Because chemical hazards are both produced and transported internationally, cooperation is necessary to address chemical dangers. Countries can work together to:
- Harmonize Regulations: The principles set could be properly applied and harmonized across the globe in a bid to safely manage chemicals throughout the world. This can help avoid exporting dangerous products into other nations that do not have stringent laws on the same.
- Information Sharing: Cooperatively generate information on the safety profile and environmental risks of chemical substances, together with the current state of practice in chemical regulation and monitoring.
- Global Treaties: The Groot Commission encouraged the support of legally binding international instruments, and formally proposed the internationally legally binding treaty for the Sustainable Production and Use of Chemicals that would protect the health of children through the UN process.
Corporate Responsibility
Manufacturers of chemicals and other players in the chain are under obligation to provide safe products and reduce impact in the environment. Key actions include:
- Transparent Reporting: Incorporation of timely and clear information about the products’ composition, safety and effects on the natural environment. This in turn informs consumers and regulators so that they can make the right decisions.
- Sustainable Practices: Implementing environmentally friendly approach from suppliers to manufacturers and from products in existence to those that will be manufactured in the future. This can help to minimize the entire impact on the environment in the production of those chemical products.