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European hazardous industry: every 1.4 seconds a harmful substance is released into the atmosphere
The whole of Europe is now covered in extremely harmful chemicals produced en masse by the continent's companies and industries, counting the entire supply chain. Every 1.4 seconds, in fact, the world industry develops a new compound and every year 1000 new substances are introduced to the market.
The Italian Society of Endocrinology (Sie), from the congress taking place in Rome these days, has launched an appeal to the European Commission to extend the list of banned harmful chemicals in order to prevent damage for future generations.
This congress is pushing for a revolution in the immediate list of substances, in order to avoid more serious consequences especially for the most vulnerable, such as pregnant women and children.
Europe invaded by chemicals
The whole of Europe is now covered in extremely harmful chemicals produced en masse by the continent's companies and industries, counting the entire supply chain. Every 1.4 seconds, in fact, the world industry develops a new compound and every year 1000 new substances are introduced to the market.
The Italian Society of Endocrinology (Sie).
The Italian Society of Endocrinology (Sie), from the congress taking place in Rome these days, has launched an appeal to the European Commission to extend the list of banned harmful chemicals in order to prevent damage for future generations.
An immediate revolution
This congress is pushing for a revolution in the immediate list of substances in order to avoid more serious consequences especially for the most vulnerable, such as pregnant women and children.
Eurostat estimates
Speaking of the European Union alone, over 300 million tonnes of chemicals are produced every year, and 200,000 different types are consumed. Calculating, that would be around 12,000 substances that are considered harmful to people's health or to the ecosystem. Most worryingly, these substances are present in three out of four widely used products, from nappies to paints to cleaning products.
What are most of these substances
Most of the chemicals produced by industries can be classified as endocrine disruptors, i.e. compounds that alter the functioning of the endocrine system and the balance of hormones in the body, with detrimental effects on the health of everyone regardless of age and gender, such as congenital malformations, neurodevelopmental or reproductive disorders, cancers, diabetes and obesity.
The harms of these substances and where they are found
Bisphenols, phthalates and perfluoroalkyls (PFAS, the chemicals in question), can be found in many everyday objects such as packaging, plastic bottles and toys. But there is not only the loss of human and animal lives (already a tremendous cost in itself). These chemicals also cause a tidal wave of economic costs that are borne by EU citizens: some estimates have linked exposures to the substances to around EUR 157 billion in actual health costs and lost earning potential.
The official request
Some 2,000 substances have been banned in the European Union over the past 13 years, but this is still not enough. In fact, an appeal has been made to European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen to update, during this term of the European Parliament and Commission, Regulation 1907/2006 Reach, which deals with the registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals on the continent.
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Nature
22/09/2023
Climate change is presenting us with greater and different challenges than ever before. In fact, the lack of rainfall and snowfall is pushing the world towards water shortages. Of course, we are not only talking about drinking water, which is used to quench our thirst, but also the water needed for energy plants and agriculture.
Some of our behaviors in fact, still linked to the old habits of abundance of our parents, are totally detrimental to the environment, as well as useless for practical purposes. Of course, there is a lack of proper environmental culture in schools in the first place, and that is where we step in.
In this little guide, we want to give you 10 quick tips on how to save water in everyday life.
science
20/09/2023
It often happens, especially during adolescence, that one realizes that one is more gifted in languages than in mathematics, or vice versa. Or that one's thought processes are different from those of a friend or classmate. This aspect depends not only on personal interests, but also on the way our brains work.
In fact, the way to process information is different from person to person, but it can be grouped into some predefined categories. Some are more predisposed to creative work, others to relationships with other people, and still others can hear and understand music in a way unthinkable for others.
According to a study carried out since the 1980s by the American psychologist Howard Gardner, we have as many as nine different types of intelligence, to which the tenth would be added. These intelligences could also theoretically be linked to certain types of jobs.
Art galleries private collections
19/09/2023
Food has undoubtedly been of paramount importance in the development of our modern civilization. Food in particular made our bodies stronger and helped extend the average lifespan of early humans by many decades.
The ability to create particular foods and dishes, in short, to process food, is still valued today, and, interestingly, many of the things that are the basis of our meals go back to ideas far into the past. Bread, wine, beer, oil, cheese, so many things go back even thousands of years.
In this short article, we will take you along with us to discover the origins of our most common foods.
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