Image description: strawberries in a black plastic punnet. Image by Engin Akyurt / Pexels

A new report from Deep Science Ventures has uncovered that the industrial economy has created more than 100 million ‘novel entities’ (chemicals not found in nature), and around 40,000 – 350,000 can be found in commercial use and production.

However, the environmental and human health effects of this remain widely unknown and under appreciated, even though growing evidence links chemical toxicity to a range of health impacts, from ADHD to infertility to cancer.

“I suppose that’s the biggest surprise for some people,” Harry Macpherson, senior climate associate at Deep Science Ventures (DSV) “a lot of people assume that there’s really great knowledge and huge due diligence on the chemical safety of these things. But it really isn’t the case.”

According to the DSV report, more than 3,600 synthetic chemicals from food contact materials (i.e. materials that are used in food preparation and packaging) alone are found in human bodies, 80 of which are of significant concern.

The DSV research adds to previous findings by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research that we have already far exceeded the safe planetary boundary for environmental pollutants, including plastics. Another recent report warned that the world faces a “plastics crisis”, which is causing disease and death from infancy to old age amid a huge acceleration of plastic production, and is responsible for at least $1.5tn (£1.1tn) a year in health-related damages.

For his part, since starting the research, Macpherson is careful about what touches his food. He cooks with a cast-iron skillet. He especially avoids heating food in plastic. He also recommends at least washing fruit and vegetables before eating them, and buying organic if you are able to afford it.