One Thing After Another?

 

Deep Science Ventures has compiled a report on chemical pollution's effect on human health and the environment. It's claimed that its threat level is of a similar order to that of climate change. The general public, however, are relatively 'in the dark' about the dangers posed by chemicals in the air they breath, the water they drink, the foods they eat and the products and furnishings in their homes. (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/06/chemical-pollution-threat-comparable-climate-change-scientists-warn-novel-entities). The report points out that more than 100 million 'novel entities' (chemicals not found in nature) have been created by industrial economies. They include gases from exhaust systems, pesticides, synthetic chemicals (some 3600) derived from materials used in food preparation and packaging, as well as the now ubiquitous PFASs ('the so-called 'forever chemicals'). Many have been linked (correlationally or causally) with impacts on human reproduction, immune, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, liver, kidney and metabolic systems. The human health consequences can range from ADHD, infertility to cancers. The report advocates paying at least as much attention to chemical pollution, as is currently given to climate change. 

Seeing the Changes 2178

Around Bynea, spotted yet another flowering of Greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), whilst Common hemp nettle (Galeopsis tetrahit); Water mint (Mentha aquatica); Marsh woundwort (Stachys palustris) and Ribbed melilot (Melilotus officinalis) were also in bloom. Alien Snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus); Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) and Lords and ladies (Arum maculatum) were in fruit.

Seeing the Changes 2177

On the Loughor-Gorseinon border, noted Sneezewort (Achilla ptarmica) in flower as well as Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) and Dog rose (Rosa canina) in fruit. Also spotted many Large white (Pieris brassicae) and Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) butterflies as well as wild bees.

The Cost of Plastics

Since 1950, the world's production of plastics has escalated 200 times. Production is set to triple again, to more than a billion tonnes per year by 2060. The most rapid increase, of course, has been in the production of single-use plastics for drinks bottles and fast food containers. Currently, 8bn tonnes of plastics pollute our entire planet. A new Lancet  review notes that plastics hit human health at every stage of life from infancy to old age. In deed, that review concludes that the current 'plastics crisis' is responsible for at least $1.5tn a year in health-related damages. Although microplastics are becoming recognised to be a ubiquitous health threat, plastics have detrimental environmental effects at every processing stage. This is from the obtaining of petrochemicals for their manufacture, to their disposal. Less than 10% of plastic is actually recycled (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/03/world-in-15tn-plastics-crisis-hitting-health-from-infancy-to-old-age-report-warns). It's been noted that petrochemical producers and plastic industry lobbyists are attempting to derail negotiations on a legally binding global plastics treaty to tackle the plastics crisis. One suspects they are not at all keen to be held responsible for any part of the $1.5tn health damage costs. Polluters, however, should pay. 

Priorities?

 

It's difficult, even for folk with vested interests in oil and gas, to deny that global heating and climate change are occurring. Extreme weather events, like heatwaves, droughts, floods and violent storms, are globally increasing in frequency and intensity. One current line of argument is that climate change worries have been 'overblown' and that 'fuel poverty' must be a greater concern. There's certainly an increased demand for electricity, to power many aspects of modern life (including data centres for AI). If there's any merit in this apparent reversal of priorities, however, it can't logically follow that increasing the extraction of oil and gas provides an answer. That would inevitably exacerbate the problems caused by global heating by 'greenhouse gases'. Surely, a more rapid replacement, where possible, of gas, oil and coal usage (already very finite resources) by solar, wind, hydroelectric and wave power (much less limited in terms of availability and longevity) makes more sense?

Heathrow Row

Amidst all the fuss about another runway for London's Heathrow airport is the real concern that the extra carbon dioxide emissions it would produce will prevent the country from achieving its nett zero targets. The UK government seems to be relying on improbable  'technofixes' such as 'green fuels' and electric planes. They don't appear keen to charge the airlines for carbon capture and storage (an also, perhaps unrealistic solution). (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/aug/01/labour-plans-offset-heathrow-expansion-emissions). They could, however, try to get short haul flights within the UK or to EU locations in France and Belgium replaced by trains journeys. This would, of course, require either making a) train journeys much cheaper and/or b) the heavily subsidised flights more expensive. The former would require more taxpayer's money and the latter would annoy middle-class voters. Neither appears to be likely to happen. 

Seeing the Changes 2176

 

In Bynea, Square-stalked St Johns wort (Hypericum tetrapterum); Butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii) and Scentless mayweed (Matricaria perforata) were in bloom.