What is Chemophobia and how it can be dangerous

What is Chemophobia

Chemophobia - is an irrational fear that causes chemistry. Strictly speaking, any material - this is a solid chemistry, because everything in the world consists of atoms of compounds, including ourselves. However Chemophobia involves fear of products obtained by artificial synthesis and in a wider sense - before all unnatural.

In contrast to such phobias, like a fear of heights or snakes, it is not only a personal neurosis, but also a social phenomenon that can become a public mood.

The boom in ecology began in the west in the late 60's - early 70-ies. At this time, there has arisen environmentalism - ideology, aimed at protecting the environment. Many people have become interested in the culture of the peoples close to nature. There were large environmental organizations (eg, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace), and the company has more to worry about competent waste management, Reducing waste and respecting the rights of animals.

On the one hand, all this has led to an increase in environmental awareness, which allows you to maintain, including the nature through technology. On the other hand, all ideas have their extremes and some began to believe that the chemical industry, by definition, does not bring anything good.

In the most drastic forms of fear of it leads to a complete abandonment of all materials and products, created in the laboratory, so that even the authority of scientists and clinical trials do not seem convincing.

Why the chemical has a bad reputation, and that of natural - good

There were situations when the chemistry has brought serious harm

Fear has a historical basis to chemicals. In the past, when the current rules have not been set, but the people did not fully understand the risks involved, associated with certain drugs, and used them safely, some developments were extremely dangerous.

For example, the insecticide DDT, also known as a dust, managesHans Marquardt, Toxicology, 1st Edition reduce the number of deaths from malaria, typhoid and visceral leishmaniasis (a tropical fever) all over the world thanks to the destruction of insect vectors. In India alone in 1948, died of malariaColin Baird, Environmental Chemistry 3 million people, and in 1965 - none. The use of pesticides has ledHans Marquardt, Toxicology, 1st Edition to the rapid growth of agriculture in the developing countries in the 40-70-ies. This phenomenon is called "green revolution".

"Dizzy With Success," was the cause of violation of safety standards. DDT was used literally everywhere - from the rooms to the crops, - forgetting to defend. However, exceeding the permitted concentration it is dangerous to humans and causes poisoning.

Environmental organizations and individual authors expressedRachel Carson, Silent Spring against the use of dust, noting in particular that is not naturally decomposed substance, and accumulate in the bodies of living beings. As a result, the use of DDT volumes began to decline and today it is prohibited in many countries.

The sad story came out and thalidomide - a sedative (sedative) drug, which in the 50s especially recommendedWilliam A. Silverman, The Schizophrenic Career of a "Monster Drug" for reception during pregnancy, to solve problems with anxiety and insomnia.

In this case study about how medication may affect fetal development have been conducted. As a result, there was a "talidomidovaya tragedy" - a lot of children whose mothers took the drug were born with physical deformities. It was found that the drug has an effect of teratogenicity, ie violates natal development.

Thalidomide was withdrawn from the market, and many countries have begun legal proceedings against the company-producer. As a result of these developments have forced many states to reconsider methods of testing and licensing of medicines.

Sedation thalidomide absolutely not worth the terrible consequences. At the same time, it has been provenThalidomide Approved to Treat Leprosy, With Other Uses Seen its use in the treatment of leprosy, myeloma and other cancers. Although WHO recommendsUse of thalidomide in leprosy limit its use because of possible irregularities.

As happened in the twentieth century several large man-made disasters at chemical plants - in the Indian city of Bhopal and Seveso in Italy. In both cases, due to an accident in the atmosphere were thrown toxic fumes. according toNeil Eisberg, Chemistry & Industry some experts, these tragic events have undermined public confidence in the industry, causing hemofobnye mood.

However to deny the entire chemical industry due to cases of convicted professional community - the same thing that abandon medicine because doctors mistakes of the past. Because thalidomide is not evil in itself, but the irresponsibility or malice can make it very dangerous for the health. Forget the tragedies can not be, because it is thanks to them that you can better plan for protection from bad scenarios.

The myth of a golden age - one of the most enduring

It seems that people have always thought that used to be better. Exclamation "What's the world?" This is as old as the world itself. More ancient philosophers complained of youth, and in the Middle Ages, any innovations were condemned, because it seemed sinful. In the certainty that once it was all right, but at some point things went wrong on the idea of ​​a golden age, which is in many cultures.

"In the old days people lived on the Earth tribes, sorrow grave not knowing, not knowing neither hard work nor harmful diseases, destruction of carriers for mortals" - Hesiod wrote in his poem "Works and Days". About the same thing and is told in the Bible, people used to live in the Garden of Eden, in peace with nature, but because of his curiosity were banished to Earth, where the dangers lurk everywhere.

The basis of these ideas is the concept of utopia - an ideal world, where all is well. utopian images of the past are connected with natural, no conflict between man and the world around. So, creators, researchers and other "witches-scientists" making the same mistake that Faust - boldly trying to understand the mysteries of the universe. And they will be punished for it.

In practice, the myth of a golden age often leads to the fact that real advances in science are underestimated, and innovation are viewed with suspicion, being guided by the principle of "as if something happens." They forget about the main thing: to avoid unpleasant consequences, you need more than just knowledge.

What makes fear the chemistry

Emotions and mythological thinking

When it comes to the use of natural, facts are often replaced by emotions. Fear of chemistry abstract. That is usually not backed by facts and research: chemistry is bad because "sinful." such quirks thinking They refer to the mythological concepts and common to many people. Even despite the fact that today, many things can be checked by weighing the pros and cons.

Probably Chemophobia is also related to the psychology of risk. When the responsibility for the consequences of taking the people (even if it is the scientists, professionals), their credibility is lower than in the case where all of the responsible nature. It is perceived as a powerful, almost divine power.

However, nature is not interested in the welfare of specific individuals or even communities. it is often based on the principle of admissibility of losses. In the course of the evolution of species survive only the fittest, and many animal litters of cubs are very large because much of it is doomed to destruction.

cognitive biases

Errors in the logic of thinking is very diverse. Here are a few cognitive biases, which are particularly common in people who are afraid of all unnatural:

• Naturalistic error or appeal to nature - the tendency to attribute all natural phenomena of positive qualities, and artificial and man-made - are negative. It is because of this there are statements like «N bad because unnatural." However, in order to announce that something harmful or dangerous, it is required arguments.
• Disasterization - a situation in which a person assumes the worst, a tendency to see as much as possible negative outcome. Any interaction with the chemical seems to be fatal, even if in fact, nothing terrible will happen.
• Tendency to validate his point of view - in the case of Chemophobia suffers interpretation of the facts, confirming the safety of the artificially produced goods. People think that the information that contradicts their view, should be discredited. Thus obtained conspiracy theories of killer doctors and that "scientists have something to hide."

Why "natural" - is not equal to "good"

Not everything natural is useful

Despite the positive connotations that have the words "natural", "natural" and "organic", there are many naturally occurring substances that are harmful to humans. Poisonous plants and fungi, animals whose bites are dangerous - all of this is that neither is nature. And to deal with such manifestations do not want it to anyone. Naturally occurring poisons called toxins. Also animals and plants and their produce bacteria, viruses and tumor cells within the body, there is a process in which the development of atypical tissues.

To completely natural substances that occur in nature include, in particular, carcinogenic arsenic, heavy metal toxic mercury and formaldehyde - toxic irritant (caller irritation).

Thus, we can kill not only that synthesized in laboratories.

It organics are most likely to be allergenWhereas hypoallergenic products are created artificially, with a special calculation to ensure that does not cause immunopathological processes. The scope of the production of medicines and cosmetics from plant extracts weaklyThe basic science of natural ingredients regulated, which means that to evaluate their degree of security difficult.

In the medicine spoon in a cup - poison

This is the case when to listen to the conventional wisdom. Even if in itself a natural substance is not toxic in large quantities it can become dangerous. Likewise, any drug in doses exceeding therapeutic, will not bring additional benefit, and may harm.

By the way, why not get involved in fashion superfudami. The hope for a magic pill that suddenly changed lives for the better understood. However, a far greater benefit will bring stable dietConsisting of the usual useful products. But exotic equivalents in large quantities can cause allergic reactions or digestive problems.

What can cause Chemophobia

Reduction of technological and economic growth

Hemobofiya today becoming popular neurosis. In a study of the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) saidScared to Death: How Chemophobia Threatens Public HealthThat due to its growth among the public people are showing more and more anxiety. Moreover, even if chemical substances that are present in their body or the environment, are minor or no safe concentration.

Abstract fear of all chemical leads to very specific consequences for science and economy. Due to the unfounded fears of falling production of goods that have been created using the latest developments. The authorities, in response to public concern, adopt laws that harm the technological development that adversely affectsRBC: + "Living Chemistry" society as a whole.

A close relative Chemophobia - fear of biotechnology, which led to the adoption of a number of countries have banned the production of GMO products. And this despite the fact that the danger of GMOs not provenAnd the use of genetically modified crops and animals wouldAlexander Panchin. Biotechnology sum. Guide to combat the myths about genetic modification of plants, animals and humans solve the problem of hunger in the world.

Purchases from unscrupulous sellers

Not all products that are positioned as natural, indeed these are. Due to the rampant fashion for organic and "natural" many marketers create products attractive "natural" way, but in reality they contain a lot of artificial substances.

A situation where goods that bring harm to the environment, pretend to be "green", called grinvoshingom. And there is no sense to overpay for a product in the kraft packaging or labeled "organic" if its composition does not differ from conventional means. And the whole ecology is positioning and the company's desire to cash in on someone else's Chemophobia.

In addition, as mentioned above, not all products that are truly organic, Do no harm. Manufacturers are advised to as much as possible to use their products and literally for the whole, but not worth too zealous.

For example, natural oils, which are used as cosmetics, very comedogenic, that is clog the pores. A fashionable coconut oil, which is used for many cooking contains twice more saturated fat than lard. it canCoconut oil is «pure poison», says Harvard professor lead to the development of cardiovascular diseases.

health problems and the spread of disease

The most desperate supporters of natural lifestyle refuse treatment with artificially produced preparations preferring "grass". Of course, there are complex cases in which even today's medicine has little to offer. However, in situations where help is possible, serious illnesses require serious treatment with modern medicines.

Ideologically to drug Chemophobia adjacent fear of vaccinations, failure of which may not only harm individuals, but also to reduce the herd immunity of the population.

With the result that

Like any irrational fear, Chemophobia based on feelings rather than facts. Meanwhile, over thousands of years of human activity have accumulated around a lot just unnatural. For example, all our crops and domestic animals do not exist in the wild, because they were created by breeding over the past 10 000 years.

allegedlyScience For Celebrities toxicologists, even away from specific areas of high concentration of many unwanted chemicals falls into our bodies. In the lungs, asbestos accumulates in the blood - dioxins. However, it is important concentration: these substances are so small that we could detect them only through the achievements of Analytical Chemistry.

It is in the laboratories under the supervision of scientists are substances that pass the most stringent tests. Nevertheless, their incorrect use can lead to big problems - to save from this capable only of awareness. If ever tell the consumer about the product, except for the seller or the local doctor, there was no one, but now everyone can find data on the composition and effects, and thus make their own choices.