There’s a strange dichotomy when it comes to our relationship to toxic materials. Indeed, on the one hand, the news is thick with blame and inquiries when toxic wastes are involved, whether it concerns the illegal pollution of the Black Sea or the increasing dangers of abandoned building sites. People are not only made aware of the potential threats that toxins can pose to their very existence.
But on the other hand, we love nothing more than a toxic scare. The toxic theme is a popular escape room game, from finding the antidote for a deadly disease to stopping a global zombie epidemic. Toxic has become a source of fun, and, as a direct consequence, we often misunderstand the implications of a toxic environment.
Dedicated science and organizations test toxicity
Not all industry sectors take the notion of toxicity seriously. Indeed, office-based jobs are often clueless when it comes to describing whether their work environment is toxic or not – this is a result of a lack of interest in long-term consequences of common equipment. However, professional sectors such as healthcare and restaurants take the presence of toxins very seriously. Indeed, the non-governmental organization, United States Pharmacopeia, established standards of toxicity for their materials. The USP Class VI test, for instance, is required to ensure the biocompatibility of the materials involved. Naturally, factors of hygiene, care, and safety also need compliance to avoid the presence of toxins in both medical and hospitality environments.
But left to their own device, people fall back to their toxic mistakes
However, in the absence of toxin-testing organizations and regulations, most people tend to ignore the danger of their behaviors. Businesses and private households, for instance, are unknowingly responsible for increasing the presence of toxins in the environment. Indeed, the lack of attention to recycling facilities can lead to toxic wastes thrown into the bin. Did you know, for instance, that your ink cartridges could take 450 years to decompose? The same principle applies to plastic waste, electronic and electrical devices, and chemical products. When there’s nobody around to check on us, people often choose to avoid the hassle of recycling.
We’ve also created an online space for toxicity
Toxicity comes in various shapes. While toxic materials often refer to physical assets and items, it can also exist in the online world. Indeed, the abundance of destructive and abusive online interactions has driven a new form of toxicity. Cornell University researchers are in the process of testing a computer model that can help to stop toxic chats before it’s too late. The researchers hope their model can be used to clear the online space by encouraging users to adjust their behaviors. There is no saying whether it’s going to work or not, but the sheer increase in online bullies and trolls indicate that it’s high time to improve our cyberselves.
In the end, it’s fair to say that there is a risk of toxicity in most sectors of activities, both professional and personal. Even though regulations and scientific evaluations of toxicity are standard in specific industry sectors, we’re still a long way away from making the world a less toxic place. More worryingly, it appears more and more evident that toxins are directly linked to human activities, making us, the people, perhaps the ultimate source of toxins in the world?
