14 DAY TRIAL // The United Nations Environment Programme recently saw the publication of a new report stating that roughly 1 million people die on a yearly basis as a result of health conditions which need be linked to the widespread use of various harmful agricultural and industrial chemicals.
In the light of these findings, the UN now asks that both the people and the companies involved in carrying out activities that require the use of such chemical compounds do their best in reducing the threats their business agenda poses to public health.
More precisely, they are to focus on cutting down on the amounts of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid, styrene and formaldehyde they release into the surrounding environment whilst carrying on with their routine.
As Environmental Leader explains, these chemicals are the most common air pollutants presently affecting the wellbeing of countless people worldwide.
Although it is true that over the past years significant efforts have been made to turn both agricultural practices and industrial operations into people- and environmentally-friendly types of activities, it seems that the progress made thus far is simply not enough to meet the required standards.
More so given the fact that, out of the 140,000 chemicals presently available on markets worldwide, many still remain untested with respect to how they impact on public health.
According to the same source, this problem is all the more pressing in countries that are only now developing, primarily because the people here rely heavily on chemical fertilizers to help boost their harvests.
Several estimates concerning the production of potentially harmful chemicals in various parts of the world indicate that both Africa and the Middle East will soon begin producing roughly 40% more such substances throughout the following 7-8 years, so it is quite likely that the people here will be facing the most significant health risks.