Chemical Pollution Poses Threat on Par with Climate Change, Scientists Warn

Published: 06 July ‘2025. The English Chronicle Desk

In a sobering new report, scientists have sounded the alarm over the escalating threat of chemical pollution, calling it a global crisis on the same scale as climate change — but one that is dangerously underestimated and decades behind in public awareness and policy response. The findings suggest that while climate change has rightfully dominated global environmental agendas, a silent and pervasive danger has been quietly infiltrating our ecosystems, our bodies, and the products we use daily.

The research, conducted by Deep Science Ventures (DSV) and funded by the Grantham Foundation, reveals that the industrial economy has created over 100 million novel chemicals — synthetic substances not found in nature — with tens of thousands actively in use. These “novel entities” have saturated the biosphere, contaminating everything from the air we breathe to the food we eat, the water we drink, and even the furnishings in our homes. Yet, the vast majority of them remain unregulated and under-researched, despite increasing evidence of serious health consequences.

From infertility and miscarriage to ADHD, cancer, and metabolic disorders, the report points to a growing body of scientific literature establishing both correlational and causal links between common synthetic chemicals and a wide array of health risks. Among the most concerning are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can interfere with the body’s hormonal systems, often with unpredictable effects even at extremely low doses. Traditional toxicity testing has failed to adequately account for such risks, researchers warn.

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” have been detected in the bodies of nearly all humans tested globally. In many parts of the world, rainwater now contains PFAS levels deemed unsafe by health authorities. Meanwhile, over 90% of the global population breathes air that exceeds World Health Organization (WHO) pollution guidelines. These figures reflect what scientists describe as a “chronic and systemic” failure in how chemical safety is regulated and assessed.

Harry Macpherson, senior climate associate at DSV, emphasized the gap between public perception and scientific reality. “Many people assume there’s rigorous testing and oversight for the chemicals in everyday products — your shampoo, food containers, furniture — but that assumption is largely unfounded,” he told The Guardian.

The report highlights that food contact materials alone contribute more than 3,600 synthetic chemicals found in the human body, 80 of which are flagged as chemicals of significant concern. With exposure sources so widespread and poorly regulated, researchers say there is an urgent need for systemic reform, including more stringent testing, labeling, and restrictions on chemical usage.

Notably, the DSV findings build upon prior warnings from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, which concluded that humanity has already exceeded the safe planetary boundary for synthetic pollutants. The findings arrive just as another report warned of an accelerating “plastics crisis,” linking plastic production and waste to disease and death at every life stage — from infancy to old age.

Despite the severity of the crisis, chemical pollution receives only a fraction of the attention and funding afforded to climate change. While Macpherson insists climate funding should not be reduced, he argues that chemical toxicity deserves dramatically increased investment — not only to improve public health outcomes but also to preserve ecosystems already strained by rising global temperatures and environmental degradation.

There is, however, some hope in the fact that solutions may be more accessible and consumer-driven. Safer product alternatives already exist, and growing public awareness could spark demand that forces industries to reform. For now, researchers encourage simple precautionary steps, such as avoiding plastic food containers, using cast-iron cookware, and washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly — or opting for organic when possible.

Ultimately, the report is both a warning and a call to action. It urges governments, industry, and consumers to wake up to a parallel crisis that is playing out in our food chains, our bloodstreams, and the very air we breathe — a crisis that demands the same level of urgency, investment, and innovation as the fight against climate change. As Macpherson bluntly stated, “This needs more attention — and fast.”