On July 15, 2025, Deep Science Ventures, an organization working to combine scientific research and startup investment, published a report in which they highlight ‘alarming trends from the production and use of toxic chemicals.’
The authors of The Invisible Tsunami report pull from peer-reviewed scientific research and interviews with experts to summarize the current knowledge base of the human and environmental health effects from petrochemicals. “We found that public health and toxic chemical pollution are deeply intertwined, with toxicity impacting human health through conditions like cancer, obesity, dementia, infertility, and heart and respiratory problems…” (FPF reported).
In both the executive summary and the full report, a key piece of evidence highlighted is that “over 3600 synthetic chemicals from food contact materials are found within human bodies globally.” This number is derived from the Food Packaging Forum’s own research.
The Database on Food Contact Chemicals Monitored in Humans (FCChumon) builds on previous work of several years at Food Packaging Forum (FPF), including research to catalog chemicals in food contact materials (FCCmigex). The Invisible Tsunami highlights “some key findings” from the review, but those key findings do not clearly reference the original researchers. This has led to reporting including in The Guardian and The Independent attributing impactful research findings to the work of Deep Science Ventures when in fact these data have been generated by FPF’s scientists or others.
FPF is well aware of the difficulties that can arise when the complexities of scientific research are conveyed to journalists, but there is a difference between performing original research, in which new numbers and information are developed, and restating the work of others. A more accurate statement than “the report revealed…” would be that “the report pulled together research on human health and toxicity that Deep Science Ventures believes is undervalued. One of the research articles they found was from the Food Packaging Forum… ”
Reference
Deep Science Ventures (July 15, 2025). “Toxicity: The Invisible Tsunami.”
Read more
Damein Gayle (August 6, 2025). “Chemical pollution a threat comparable to climate change, scientists warn.” The Guardian
Tara Cobham (August 4, 2025). “Cancer, Alzheimer’s and infertility ‘strongly’ linked to toxic chemicals in food and water by major report.” The Independent
