The chemical industry has become one of the largest manufacturing industries in the world since the beginning of the 21st century (Murmann, 2003). They convert raw materials such as oil, natural gas, air, water, metals, and minerals into more than 70,000 synthetic chemicals (United States Department of Commerce, n.d.). Heavy demands on chemicals allowed prosperity of materials goods and had brought convenience for many people. Now they can be found everywhere around world, and even in our bodies. Regardless where we live, in the rural area, in the middle of the city, or near an industrialized area, scientists diagnosed that everyone alive today carries within one’s body at least 700 contaminants (Coming clean, n.d.). The problems arise when most of these chemicals are carcinogens, cancer-causing. By examining which synthetic chemicals can cause cancer and identifying its effects on human health, the solutions to mitigate this crucial matter has been suggested by many agencies. However, there are economic barriers and other barriers brought up from skepticisms and lack of data research which need appropriate response to protect our health.
Background:
The trends of most important inputs for producers have been changed from natural resources to manmade chemicals after the industrial revolution. With these chemical inputs, industries produce many material goods such as medical drugs, plastics, textiles, paper and rubber. Therefore, the chemical industry in the world has been economically significant at the turn of the 21st century (Murmann, 2003). Globally, from 1930 to 2000, synthetic chemicals production increased from 1 million to 400 million tons per year. However, only 14% of the heavily used chemicals provide the minimal amount of data to set basic safety regulations (World Wide Fund, n.d.). In addition, IOMC, the team working with a range of U.N. agency claimed that many chemicals used in consumer products are not identified by the
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