Have you ever stopped to think about how things are made in our factories? What are the steps that workers follow? Where do the materials they use come from? What about the chemicals in those materials?
Industrial activity is an essential component of modern living. None of us have the time or skills to make all of our own clothes, harvest all of the food we eat, let alone build our own cars, computers and mobile phones. The challenge we face is that over the years we have never made the time to clean up our industrial processes. As the global population increases from 7.6 billion (August 2018) to an anticipated 9.8 billion in 2050, yes there will be more people to sell products to but how healthy will they be?
http://worldpopulationreview.com
https://www.businessinsider.com/biggest-cities-by-2030-2018-7
At the current rate of growth, all we will be doing if we do not change is increasing the number of toxic pollutants we are exposed to on a daily basis.
The first place we can demand increased safety is in our homes and offices (including if we work in factories). Circular Economy is not a benefit if we re-circulate and re-use toxic materials. The more we are aware of the available alternatives the better we are at creating safer environments.
A summary report on issues to consider:
Human Health Risk Assessment of Combined Exposures to Chemicals
https://ki.se/sites/default/files/2011-3.pdf
Networks that can help increase your ability to identify safe chemicals and practices:
Healthy Building Network
https://healthybuilding.net
Health Care Without Harm
https://noharm.org
Global Health and Safety Initiative
http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/135432/Health+Safety/International+HR+Best+Practices+Tips+Global+Workplace+Health+And+Safety+Compliance+From+The+Micro+Protecting+The+Individual+Traveler+To+The+Macro+Protecting+The+International+Workforce
Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
https://saferchemicals.org/
At CSTI we have partnered with the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS) to improve the quality and safety of the built environment.
Contact KGBS for local guidance on how to improve your local environment
Tel: + 254 710 869 547
http://kenyagreenbuildingsociety.co.ke
Let us make combine efforts to make sure that our healthy activities are not being sabotaged by a polluted core: demand safer chemicals.
Close up View: Understanding Toxic Chemicals