Paper short abstract:

For decades, untreated industrial wastewater, including chemicals, flowed into the sea, with the belief that the ocean's vastness would neutralize any harm. This paper chronicles the lengthy process leading up to the moment when policymakers recognized the imperative need to protect the environment

Paper long abstract:

In the late 1930s, spurred by Germany's pioneering chemical industry, knowledge of new synthetic pesticides began to emerge and quickly spread to chemical sectors worldwide. The allure of these novel chemical super-agents rapidly gained momentum. Yet, despite the promises and accolades, the inherent drawbacks of these innovations went largely unnoticed.

To keep up with this rapid industrial progress, Danish legislation underwent some changes in 1954, introducing stricter regulations for the domestic market and allocating resources for evaluation by the Toxicological Board. As new chemicals continued to be developed at an accelerating rate, the lot increased year after year, nine times from 1956 to 1983.

Awareness among environmental protection researchers regarding the dangers of these chemicals emerged belatedly. Rachel Carson's seminal 1962 book, "Silent Spring," served as a wake-up call. However, it wasn't until the 1970s that legislation was sufficiently prepared to address the environmental hazards introduced three decades earlier. Only in the 1980s was an efficient administrative apparatus established to mitigate the most severe environmental risks.

This presentation sheds light on the persistent challenge of a continuously innovative chemical industry, contrasted against a regulatory framework that operated at a slower pace and bureaucratic obstacles within the state apparatus. The analysis underscores the interplay between the international pesticide market, scientific discourse on associated risks, the interests of the agricultural sector, public administration, and political deliberations.