Organic Insights Magazine - Summer 2022

26 / Organic Insights / Summer 2022

de-toxing our poisoned planet

Highly regarded Australian author, journalist, editor and science communicator Julian Cribb AMwas the keynote speaker at our 2021 AGM – and delivered a powerful message on a phenomenon even larger than climate change.

Speaking about his latest book, Earth Detox , Julian described the widespread use of human emitted chemicals that are contaminating our World. These chemicals continue to accumulate in our air, water, food chain, wildlife, our manufactured products, and even in our human genes. This phenomenon affects all eco-systems worldwide – extending fromMount Everest, to Antarctica, the depths of the ocean and the remotest islands of the globe. Julian estimates that our chemical emissions are 4-5 times larger than our climate emissions at 220 gigatonnes each year – and are cumulative over time. These chemical emissions include the wastes that result frommining, oil and gas production, farming, fertilisers, hazardous waste, and ‘personal care’ products. There are 350,000+ different types of man-made chemicals in use daily, Julian says, and very few of them have been checked for human safety. Of the 350,000, only 21 are currently banned and there are around 2,000 new chemicals being released on the market every year. In addition to this, it is not just the toxicity of individual chemicals, but the impact of mixtures of chemicals, that is unknown. If that isn’t scary enough so far, consider this. Julian says that we start accumulating these chemicals from the moment we are conceived – and throughout our lives. Research has found up to 414 industrial chemicals in the blood of newborn babies. Following this, the baby’s first drink from its mother’s breast is contaminated with pesticides, and the baby’s first poo contains over a million fragments of plastic – pieces so small that they can pass through the maternal embryo barrier.

The annual toll from chemical exposure has been estimated by the World Health Organisation at almost 13 million human lives lost, and 600 million crippled annually. This is alongside the emergence of new diseases from exposure to neurotoxins including various cancers, mental disorders, and loss of intelligence. Julian says that regulation is failing to protect humanity from this chemical deluge, and that all humans have a responsibility to help clean up the Planet through every act of consumption. He points to the solutions that already exist such as green chemistry, circular thinking and zero waste, integrated pest management and effective risk assessment and remediation – and offers a 10-point plan for a Clean Earth: • Form a ‘Clean up the Earth’ alliance. • Demand a Human Right ‘not to be poisoned’ • Establish a global ‘IPCC’ for chemicals • Eliminate all fossil fuels • Eliminate toxins from food chain • Train young scientists to ‘first, do no harm’ • Educate kids to choose non-toxic products • Reward industry by buying green • Zero waste, green chem, product stewardship • Test all chemical products for safety; establish a global inventory A sobering presentation from Julian that serves as a reminder to all of the motivation for, and benefits of, chemical free organic farming! Further Information View the full video at nasaaorganic.org.au/de- toxing-our-poisoned-planet