title: Confronting unknown planetary boundary threats from chemical pollution.
abstract: Rockström et al. proposed a set of planetary boundaries that delimitate a "safe operating space for humanity". One of the planetary boundaries is determined by "chemical pollution", however no clear definition was provided. Here, we propose that there is no single chemical pollution planetary boundary, but rather that many planetary boundary issues governed by chemical pollution exist. We identify three conditions that must be simultaneously met for chemical pollution to pose a planetary boundary threat. We then discuss approaches to identify chemicals that could fulfill those conditions, and outline a proactive hazard identification strategy that considers long-range transport and the reversibility of chemical pollution.
authors: Stockholm Environment Institute , Kräftriket 2B, Stockholm 10691, Sweden.
authors: Linn M
authors: LM
authors: Persson
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Breitholtz
authors: Ian T
authors: IT
authors: Cousins
authors: Cynthia A
authors: CA
authors: de Wit
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: MacLeod
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: McLachlan
mesh_terms: D018534:Earth, Planet; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants