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What is Green Chemistry?

WE LEARN EVERY DAY HOW TOXIC CHEMICALS THREATEN OUR HEALTH.  DOES IT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY?  HEAR WHAT SCIENTISTS AND INDUSTRIES ARE DOING TO REINVENT CHEMISTRY ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.                                  

CHEMISTS INVENT THE MATERIALS, DRUGS, AND CHEMICALS THAT MAKE MODERN LIFE POSSIBLE.  BUT IT HASN’T BEEN THEIR JOB, AS THEY DESIGN NEW CHEMICALS, TO ASK WHETHER THEY MIGHT BE TOXIC.  SO, MANY CHEMICALS HAVE ENTERED INTO MODERN USE THAT HARM OUR HEALTH.  THAT’S CHANGING NOW, WITH THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW BRANCH OF SCIENCE – GREEN CHEMISTRY.  THESE SCIENTISTS WORK WITH PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERTS SO THAT WHAT COMES OUT OF THE LAB IS GOOD FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN.

THEY’VE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO, WITH MORE THAN EIGHTY THOUSAND CHEMICALS IN USE TODAY, VERY FEW OF WHICH ARE TESTED.  BUT THEY’RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.  STAY TUNED EVERY WEEK FOR UPDATES ON THE GREEN CHEM FRONT, AND HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM. 

For more information on green chemistry, visit the EPA site.