1. World problems
  2. Dangerous substances

Dangerous substances

  • Dangerous materials
  • Hazards of strong toxic substances
  • Hazardous chemicals

Nature

Recent surveys suggest that, in the USA alone, as many as 50,000 units processing chemicals were not designed to prevent the leaking of hazardous substances should the unit get out of control, although it is admittedly unlikely that such runaway reactions would or could occur in any but a minority of cases. Most emergency relief systems in the chemical industry have serious design problems (with potentially devastating consequences) and virtually all are inadequate. Emergency and safety systems are not given priority in industry or in undergraduate curricula; none of the 145 undergraduate chemical engineering programmes in the USA requires a course in safety. Although the chemical industry is thought to be 'high-tech', much of the equipment used is antiquated and imprecise. Changes to improve matters would be costly – but not as costly as dealing with an accident should it occur.

Exposure to hazardous chemicals can result from industrial and transportation accidents and from inadequate management and disposal of wastes, particularly hazardous wastes.

Background

The global significance of dangerous substances emerged in the early 20th century, as industrialization led to widespread chemical production and accidental poisonings. Landmark incidents, such as the Minamata mercury disaster (1950s) and Bhopal gas tragedy (1984), heightened international awareness of the risks posed by toxic materials. Over time, scientific advances and cross-border incidents have deepened understanding of their persistence, bioaccumulation, and transboundary impacts, prompting coordinated regulatory and monitoring efforts worldwide.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Incidence

Recent industrial accidents have broken records for the release of strong toxic substances. One, at the nuclear power reactor in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (US), was the first known case of radioactive materials escaping into the environment resulting from commercial use of atomic energy. The Three Mile Island plant remains hazardous and problems of detoxification have not all been solved. Cancer, birth defects and other radiation-related illnesses have now begun to show higher incidences in the Harrisburg area. The full extent of human damage is not yet known however. The greatest industrial disaster of all time occurred in July, 1984 at Bhopal, India, where a transnational corporation's chemical factory malfunctioned leaking methyl isocyanate. Casualties may have exceeded 20,000 persons whose injuries include total or partial blindness, vision impairments, lung damage and other disorders. Genetic damage is also feared.

Claim

Dangerous substances pose a critical threat to our health, environment, and future generations. Ignoring their widespread use and improper disposal is reckless and irresponsible. These toxic chemicals contaminate our air, water, and food, causing severe illnesses and irreversible damage. Immediate action and strict regulations are essential to protect our communities. We cannot afford complacency—addressing the dangers of hazardous substances must be a top priority for everyone, everywhere, right now.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Counter-claim

The concern over so-called "dangerous substances" is vastly overblown. Modern regulations and technology have made exposure to harmful chemicals extremely rare. Most fears are based on outdated information or media hype, not real risk. People should focus on genuine issues rather than obsessing over substances that pose little to no threat in everyday life. Worrying about this is a waste of time and resources that could be better spent elsewhere.This information has been generated by artificial intelligence.

Broader

Danger
Yet to rate

Narrower

Toxic substances
Presentable
Mutagens
Presentable
Hazardous wastes
Presentable
Aldrin
Presentable
Acid mists
Unpresentable

Aggravates

Aggravated by

Instability
Unpresentable
Moisture
Yet to rate

Strategy

Value

Toxicity
Yet to rate
Hazard
Yet to rate
Dangerous
Yet to rate

Reference

Web link

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-beingSustainable Development Goal #12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(C) Cross-sectoral problems
Biological classification
N/A
Subject
Content quality
Presentable
 Presentable
Language
English
1A4N
C6913
DOCID
11369130
D7NID
139362
Editing link
Official link
Last update
Nov 3, 2022