Top Ten Most Dangerous Environmental Poison Sources

Environmental organizations identify the 10 most dangerous sources of environmental toxins

11/11/2011

Millions of people worldwide are exposed to significant health risks from so-called environmental toxins. The environmental organizations Green Cross Switzerland and the Blacksmith Institute (USA) now have a list of „most dangerous environmental poison sources of 2011“ compiled.

The statements of the current „Environmental Toxin Report 2011“ Environmental toxins are responsible for reducing the life expectancy of millions of people worldwide by an average of 12.7 years. Among the ten most serious sources of environmental toxins are, for example, ore production, mining, but also agricultural production. The report gives a frightening picture of the spread and health effects of environmental toxins, but it only refers to them „unique, stationary source of pollution“ and substances approved by the Technical Advisory Committee of the Blacksmith Institute „toxic“ were classified. Expressly excluded „Pollution problems whose source is unclear or spatially distributed - such as car exhausts, urban air pollution, water pollution from diffuse sources“ or „general household and commercial waste“, which may also play a significant role in terms of health risks.

Mining, metal industry and chemical industry home environment poison sources
According to the 2011 Green Tox Switzerland and the Blacksmith Institute 2011 Environmental Toxic Substance Report, the most serious health risks posed by environmental toxins in the mining industry. The environmental toxins released here are estimated to damage the health of seven million people worldwide, according to environmental organizations. But also from the metal smelting and extraction, according to the experts, significant health problems for about five million people. The environmental toxins of the chemical industry also endanger nearly five million people. Not to be underestimated are also the damage to health caused by the pesticides of industrial agriculture, which are exposed to more than three million people worldwide. The environmental toxins used in tanneries and in the petroleum industry, according to the environmental protection organizations, also affect approximately 1.9 million people in their health. Altogether, more than 35 million people worldwide suffer from severe health consequences from the top ten environmental toxins, according to the experts in the 2011 Environmental Toxin Report. Green Cross Switzerland's General Manager, Nathalie Gysi, said in a recent press release that „Although at least as many people suffer from environmental poison-related diseases as malaria or tuberculosis, the international community hardly provides any relief in many countries“ supports.

Loss of nearly 13 years of life due to environmental toxins
The surveys of environmental protection organizations on the pollution levels of more than 2,000 stationary sources of pollution were linked to the number of estimated inhabitants and the threat of health risks in the context of the current Environmental Report 2011. For the first time, the health consequences were not only caused by an expected reduction However, environmental studies on the world's most dangerous environmental toxins have focused mainly on the deaths of environmental toxins, but in the relevant statistics the „severe disabilities without fatal consequences“ not covered by environmental toxins, so that the researchers in the 2011 Environmental Toxicology Report looked for a way to also take into account the years of life spent in illness. For this they used the so-called „Disability-Adjusted Life Year“ Index that reflects lost or disability years of life. According to the experts calculated loss of life by the top ten of environmental toxins amounts to an average of 12.7 years for people who regularly come into contact with the pollutants.

International community urged to act
According to environmental protection organizations, the latest Environmental Toxicology Report also highlights the need for action at the international community level to protect people around the world from the most dangerous environmental toxins. Stephan Robinson from Green Cross Switzerland emphasized that „called on the international community“ be, „to raise the necessary resources and commitment to eliminate the sources of environmental toxins and tackle the most serious issues immediately.“ At the same time, the work of the international community must also focus on the problems of local pollution sources, Robinson said. For contrary to the widespread assumption are „Many of the most serious sources of pollution are not attributed directly to multinational companies, but to insufficiently regulated, small-scale activities such as mining by artisan means, metal recycling and closed down operations“, This is the statement by Green Cross Switzerland and the Blacksmith Institute in the Environmental Report 2011. However, the industrialized nations are not relieved of their responsibility, because they contribute significantly to environmental toxin problems in developing countries, according to environmental NGOs. The demand for raw materials and consumer goods, which are used to produce the dangerous environmental toxins, is based mainly on the economically strong countries and accordingly the environmental impact on the ground by the industrialized countries forced, said Green Cross Switzerland and the Blacksmith Institute. (Fp)

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Image: Dieter Schütz