By Dr. Syeda Sultana Rizvi
April 7,2023
The use of chemicals including the hazardous ones has increased over the years. Chemicals are used in countless products of every day use ranging from such basic things as food and clothing to toys of children, cleaning agents, and personal care items to say a few. Presence of harmful chemicals in various products besides their persistence in the air, water and soil poses significant risks to human health and the environment.
Numerous risks associated with exposure to hazardous chemicals among others include serious health issues, such as cancer; weakening of the immune system and normal functioning of organs; disruption of the hormonal and the reproductive system; birth defects and negative impacts on the mental, intellectual and physical development of children.
Scientific studies show that pollution, including from industrial chemicals and pesticides, causes at least nine million premature deaths every year worldwide. Health costs associated with exposure to pesticides and other chemical substances exceed 10% of the global GDP. On a European scale, the societal costs directly attributable to pesticides were around €2.3 billion in 2017.
The impact of harmful chemicals on people’s health and the environment can no longer be ignored. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that stakeholders, including consumers, workers, and policymakers, are aware of the risks associated with exposure to harmful chemicals. This requires transparent information and a good communications policy.
Regulations exist globally, in the European Union and the individual countries to address this problem. The European Union has taken significant steps to regulate chemicals and ensure their safe use. In line with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonised System (GHS) – and its purpose is to ensure a high level of protection of health and the environment, as well as the free movement of substances, mixtures and articles – EU’s regulation on Classification, Labeling and Packaging (CLP) regulation is in place since 2008.
CLP aims to ensure that all hazardous chemicals that are placed on the market in the EU are classified, labeled, and packaged according to a harmonized system, making it easier for manufacturers, importers, and downstream users to understand the risks associated with the use of these chemicals. It ensures that all users have access to clear and consistent information about the potential hazards of these substances and can take the necessary steps to protect themselves and the environment.
Similarly EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation requires manufacturers and importers of chemicals to register their substances, provide safety data, and take necessary measures to ensure their safe use. However, despite these efforts, many people are still unaware of the potential risks associated with exposure to harmful chemicals. The effectiveness of this regulation depends on the availability of transparent information and good communication policies to make stakeholders aware of the risks of exposure to harmful chemicals. Thus greater transparency of information and better communications to the manufacturers and suppliers.
At the consumers’ level good communications policy is essential to inform about the presence of harmful substances in the articles and also the risks associated with exposure to them, and the measures they can take to protect themselves. This requires clear and transparent information in a language comprehensible to a lay man. Companies should make sure that their labeling is clear and easy to understand. The labels should indicate the potential hazards associated with the product, the necessary precautions to be taken, and any specific disposal instructions. This will ensure that consumers and workers can easily identify and avoid products that pose a risk to their health.
Moreover, policymakers must ensure that the public is informed about the risks associated with exposure to harmful chemicals. They can do this by providing educational programs and information campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the potential hazards of chemicals and the measures that can be taken to reduce exposure. Policymakers should also work with industry stakeholders to develop best practices and guidelines for chemical management that promote transparency, accountability, and good governance.
Transparent information and a good communications policy are essential to ensure that stakeholders are aware of the risks associated with exposure to harmful chemicals. This requires the active involvement of manufacturers, importers, workers, and policymakers, civil society, political parties and consumers themselves, all of whom have a role to play in promoting transparency and accountability in the management of chemicals. By working together, risks associated with chemicals can be minimized, and our health and the environment are protected.
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