Blacksmith Institute recently released their 2011 World's Worst Toxic Pollution Problems Report.
The report centers around a "top ten toxic pollution problems" list, which serves as a great reminder that upcycling is not always possible (don't upcycle toxic materials!) and that careful safety regulation of products and activities should occur before they are actually made or carried out. After all, contaminated materials don't just become "clean" after some well-meaning crafter attempts to turn them into some cute new set of upcycled earrings.
The report's top ten toxic list was made based off of two factors: "the estimated number of people affected by the pollutant and the number of sites identified globally where the pollutant exists in concentrations above health standards," and reads as follows:
1. Artisanal Gold Mining- Mercury Pollution
2. Industrial Estates- Lead Pollution
3. Agricultural Production- Pesticide Pollution
4. Lead Smelting- Lead Pollution
5. Tannery Operations- Chromium Pollution
6. Mining and Ore Processing- Mercury Pollution
7. Mining and Ore Processing- Lead Pollution
8. Lead-Acid Battery Recycling- Lead Pollution
9. Naturally Occurring Arsenic in Ground Water- Arsenic Pollution
10. Pesticide Manufacture and Storage- Pesticide Pollution
The number one offender, artisanal gold mining, produces mercury pollution that affects the health of an estimated 3,506,600 people. These issues pose a serious threat, arguably more serious than the lost upcycling opportunity that a trashed cereal box poses.
Upcycle away, but remember where the real problems lie.
Terilyn,
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't know much about upcycling, but I do find it interesting to read. I think you could have added a commentary in there. However, I do have some questions: What exactly is the artisanal gold mining and what really is mercury pollution?
Hi Teri,
ReplyDeleteReading your list, I see how there are a lot of different kinds of pollution. I agree to your idea that not everything can be upcycled, and one should consider the toxins contained in the the materials before you start upcycling. Anyways, pollution is really a problem that threats the environment and human's health.
Thanks for the in site.
ReplyDeleteThat would be scary to upcycle toxic materials. How can you really know what's being used in products being sold?
ReplyDeleteTeri,
ReplyDeleteThe post was certainly intriguing enough for me to delve into the report myself and glance through a couple of pages! It's interesting to notice that with the exception of agriculture, the study is filled with lists and lists that relate to heavy industries. It seems that these are the kind of things that the global economy has to unfortunately depend on. It would be nice to ponder how much money would possibly be worth cutting down on some of these heavy industries.
Wow, I can't believe more attention hasn't been brought to this! And yeah... dont upcycle toxic material! I agree with you Teri, even though we as people tend to dwell on the smaller issues, we need to look at the bigger more serious picture sometimes.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good case for good cause.
ReplyDelete