One of the most pressing concerns casting a dark shadow on our horizon is the proliferation of chemically laden products manufactured by companies all over the world.  From busy, overpopulated cities filled with towering skyscrapers seemingly touching the sky, to the quiet and simple countryside, and even to the forests and jungles uninhabited by people, no corner of the world is now safer from the spread and damaging effects of soil, air, and water pollution. Below, we cover harmful pollutants in daily-use products.

Pollutants Everywhere

This is an inconvenient reality that threatens the health and wellbeing of human populations and of all of earth’s inhabitants. It also disrupts the delicate balance of our ecosystem. And the role of chemically-laden products produced by companies cannot be overstated.  From household cleaners, cooking wares, clothing to personal care products, and industrial and agricultural products, the chemicals used leave a trail of pollution everywhere.

An exploration of air, water and soil pollution will help us understand the causes better and possibly give us insights on how we, as individuals, can help improve the situation.

Air Pollution

Air pollution damages vegetation, ecosystem and wildlife. Air pollutants can cause acid rain which can harm forests, freshwater ecosystems and soil quality.

This type of pollution can cause severe respiratory problems, impaired cognitive function, and increased risk of neurological disorders and cardiovascular diseases.  And if you think that you are safe at home, you may have to think again. A 2023 study states that there are more than 4 million people who die every year because of indoor air pollution.

Household cleaning products, and personal care products are just some of the sources of pollution at home. And you may be surprised to know that your air freshener actually uses at least 100 chemicals. Some of these chemicals are formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, which are associated with different types of cancer if exposed over time.

2023 was the year when the highest greenhouse gas emissions were recorded. The World Emissions Clock projected that the world would emit 59 gigatonnes of carbon-equivalent greenhouse gases with the average global citizen emitting 7.4 tonnes of said emissions. Atmospheric methane, known to be better at trapping heat compared to CO2, rose to 1,922.6 parts per billion (ppb). The world’s methane levels are now more than 160% higher than that of pre-industrial times.

Air pollution is becoming an increasing hazard.

Water Pollution

According to a report released at the UN 2023 Conference in New York, 2 billion people around the world do not have safe drinking water and 3.6 billion lack access to safely managed sanitation. Together they make 72% of the global population. 

Aside from prolonged droughts, water pollution is another cause of the scarcity of safe drinking water. Sadly, an estimated 80% of wastewater worldwide is released back into nature without proper treatment. An even sadder situation is that 1.8 billion people around the world use contaminated water. 

In fact:

• 320 million people in China do not have access to clean drinking water and contaminated water consumption accounts for the 1.4 million children who die each year.
• 507 million Africans rely on unclean water for drinking, washing, and cooking. 
• Rivers and lakes within the European Union boundaries are heavily contaminated as well.

In the United States, the government spends 5,187 billion dollars just to rid waterways of toxic substances. Around 20% of groundwater sources in the United States contain pollutants that are detrimental to health.

Soil or Land Pollution

Soil pollution happens when toxic pollutants and contaminants are present in such high concentration that harm land biodiversity and human health.

When it comes to pollution, the first things that come to mind are air and water pollution. But the truth is, soil is just as important as the air we breathe and the water we drink, and it is just as polluted as the two.

Just as we cannot survive without breathable air and clean drinking water, healthy soil is also crucial to our existence. Healthy soils provide nutrient-rich foods that sustain populations, support ecosystems, prevent floods by storing water and slow down climate change by trapping carbon.

Common contaminants of soil are pesticides, asbestos, lead, petroleum products, chromated copper arsenate, macro and microplastics, antibiotics, etc. These contaminants can seep through the soil and travel to our water supply.

Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, which is created when antibiotics seep into the soil, decrease the effectiveness of antibiotics. Each year, this is said to cause 700,000 deaths, and by 2050, it will be responsible for the death of more people than cancer. 

Soil pollution is a big problem worldwide. For instance, 80,000 sites in Australia now suffer from soil contamination, and 16 percent of Chinese soil is polluted. In the European Economic Area and West Balkans, around 3 million sites are likely to be polluted. A list of pollution hotspots includes 1,300 sites in the United States.

In 2023, 82% of farmlands in the agricultural country of the Philippines was found to be suffering from moderate to low levels of fertility, a problem possibly caused by soil pollution.

PFAS or Forever Chemicals

Comprising 4,700 chemicals, PFAS do not break down. They are resistant to heat, grease, and water.  The problem is, they are found in a wide variety of everyday products like non-stick cookware, food packaging, toilet paper, waterproof clothing,  stain-resistant carpets, electronics, and cosmetics and other personal care products. 

Industries and Pollutants

• Dye Manufacturing: color, copper, salt, sulfides, and formaldehydes
• Paint Manufacturing: chromium, zink, and volatile organic compounds
• Textiles: iron, chromium, chlorinated compounds, urea, hydrogen peroxide, high pH NaOH, surfactants, forever chemicals
• Pharmaceuticals: Cadmium, nickel, phenolic compounds
• Petrochemical: Petroleum, hydrocarbons, phenolic compounds, nitrobenzene, alkanes, chloroalkanes, high salt, etc.
• Paper and Pulp: Organic chlorophenolic compounds, suspended solids, AOX lignin, tannins, sterols, colors, biocides
• Metal Working: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), ammonium nitrogen, cyanide, phenol, oil and grease 
• Plastic: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), lead, mercury, cadmium, diethylhexyl phthalate
• Agriculture: Heavy metals like lead, aresenic, cadmiumб and mercury are present in fertilizers and pesticides

Interconnection of Soil, Air, and Water

It is crucial to understand the unbreakable interconnection between and among the planet’s soil, air, and water. Each one influences and depends on the other. For this reason, environmental management and conservation efforts by governments, organizations and ordinary individuals  should take this relationship into consideration.

In view of the present situation, everyone should triple their efforts in looking for creative and innovative ways to prevent pollution from worsening.  Knowing what chemicals are used in the products that you purchase or the chemicals generated from the production of these products will empower you to make choices that would make a lot of difference for you and the world.

About Madi Decor

A USA-based company, headquartered in Southern California, is a pioneering custom designer, maker and provider of safe, no-chemical, non-polluting, sustainable, natural and environment-enriching products for companies in diverse industries in the USA. For a list of products and materials, please visit our site.