A recent study indicates an alarming increase in cancer rates among young people. While the causes are unclear, environmental factors, particularly pollution and artificial substances, are strongly suspected to contribute to this emerging trend.
While most of us are aware of the rapid rise in greenhouse gas emissions, equally astounding has been the growth of artificial substances. Over 200 million new chemical substances have been registered in the CAS (Chemical Abstracts Service) Registry to date and millions are added each year.
The number of chemicals in use has been estimated at around 350,000 with over 2000 new chemicals released every year in the US alone. Few have been tested for safety. The number of possible interactions is astronomical. Many of these chemicals are used in everyday products like pharmaceuticals, food, toiletries, clothes, furniture and beauty products. Many are forever chemicals that build up in the environment. A large number are single-use plastics that end up in the ocean. The effects on unborn children are unknown. The full effects on the environment are unknown. The effects on our immune systems are largely unknown but have likely contributed to the rise in autoimmune diseases, mental health problems, allergies, cancers and other non-communicable diseases.
The proportions of artificial substances that are harmful have been estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The corresponding number of harmful substances (based on 350,000 chemicals in use) is shown below:
| Hazard | Number and % of chemicals (350,000 total) |
| Acute toxicity | 46,900 (13.4%) |
| Toxic to reproduction | 8,750 (2.5%) |
| Mutagenicity | 13,650 (3.9%) |
| Carcinogenicity | 6,300 (1.8%) |
| Danger to aquatic environment | 12,250 (3.5%) |
Only a few dozen of these chemicals have been banned.
To describe this as an experiment would be inaccurate, because an experiment would suggest we can make changes based on the results. In just a few hundred years we have irrevocably altered our environment in ways we do not and cannot fully understand.