The 4 horsemen of the Apocalypse: 4 poisons to be banned in the next 10 years

Hazardous and toxic chemicals are everywhere: in furniture, on walls and in our dishes. Harmful substances to be banned long before they arrive in our house, and which perhaps will find their end during this decade.

Poisons to be banned: 4 damage per thousand.

There is growing awareness of the link between exposure to chemicals and serious health effects, but people don't always have the power to choose what they buy. This is why it is important for governments to eliminate regardless of the worst chemicals from the market. Here are the 4 worst poisons to ban that we can and must eradicate as soon as possible.

Lead

You would bet that lead has already been banned, especially in items we are exposed to on a daily basis. After all, we have long known about its dangerous health effects. For decades, governments have taken steps to reduce public exposure to lead, first eliminating it from paint (1961), then from gasoline (2002).

This does not mean, however, that there has been a total ban on this toxic metal which is known to cause learning delays, reduced IQ and impaired kidney function, among other things. Pipes installed before 2011 may contain lead, as may some roof coverings. Even some furniture. There is no safe level of exposure for children.

Lead-based paint in old houses, contaminated soil and dust are the main routes of exposure in houses. We still have a long way to go.

Asbestos

The production, processing and sale ofasbestos I'm outlawed in Italy since 1992. The construction industry has long used this powdery white material, which may still be hiding in walls, for its insulating and heat-resistant properties. Asbestos causes a specific, cruel and rare type of cancer: mesothelioma. It affects the chest and abdomen and is often fatal.

Despite everything, it still persists in concrete pipes and roof coverings. Many vehicle products still contain asbestos, as well as some sheet metal seals used for plumbing. And we are still exposed to the asbestos residue left behind from years of inactivity.

PFAS

I PFAS they are industrial chemical compounds used to make products impermeable to water and fats. They are used in the production of many everyday objects such as Teflon pans, bleached baking paper, fast food packaging, waterproofed or insulating clothing and lubricants. For at least 60 years these substances have been spreading and poisoning the aquifers, surface waters and aqueducts of the western Veneto but they are now widespread in the Po river and therefore also in the Adriatic Sea.

The scientific evidence is showing that PFAS are bad, bad, bad. They are linked to cancer, thyroid problems, infertility and more.

They can remain in the environment forever. They can also accumulate in a person's body.

Formaldehyde

Among the poisons to be banned, this chemical is far more common than you can imagine. Indeed, formaldehyde (a colorless and flammable gas with a strong odor that some describe as brine) can be found in wood products that are likely to be found in your living room, as well as other building materials. However, people can also be exposed to release formaldehyde due to industrial processes, such as the combustion of natural gas.

Exposure to formaldehyde can lead to an increased risk of asthma, neurological effects and potentially cancer. According to the WHO, 90% of cancer risk from air pollution can be attributed to three chemicals: ethylene oxide, chloroprene and formaldehyde.

The substance is used in many sectors, from medicine to livestock farming as a biocide, but "there are no national acts for the regulation of existing authorizations". Formaldehyde has been classified as a category B1 carcinogen, with the danger indication H350, meaning it can cause cancer. But to include it among the substances that can only be used if authorized by the European Commission, the "essential" condition is the availability of formaldehyde substitutes "which, at the moment, have only been identified for some uses.

So, at least until a decree announced in Italy by the end of 2020, we are exposed to industrial toxins simply because there is a loophole that allows it.

This decade, which will be the decade of the environment, cannot end without having eradicated this continuous exposure to poisons that should be banned.