Green Chemistry

     Many companies all over the world produce chemicals for their products that are harmful to the environment, human health, and to all living species. Green Chemistry is the use of chemistry for the prevention of chemical pollution to the environment by using chemicals that are benign, or not harmful. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the mission of Green Chemistry is, “To promote innovative chemical technologies that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, and use of chemical products.” Green Chemistry contains any aspects and types of chemical processes that reduce the negative effects of certain chemicals, in a way, using chemistry to fight chemistry.
     
     Green Chemistry started after the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 was passed. The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) began to develop ways to make chemical products and processes less hazardous to humans and the environment. There are many principles of Green Chemistry; to prevent waste, to use less hazardous chemical synthesis, design safer chemicals and solvents, make chemicals more energy and cost efficient, reduce derivatives and toxins, prevention of pollution, and accident reduction.

     There are many companies, foundations, clinics, and individual chemists that are involved in Green Chemistry. Of course, the Environmental Protection Agency is highly involved with much government support. The EPA and the Syracuse Research Corporation developed the Chemistry Expert System (GCES) which is used to develop and analyze the various principles of Green Chemistry. They find sources of waste and evaluate the amounts and risks produced. After, they explore opportunities to solve these problems. To help them achieve this, the Alternative Solvents Database (SolvDB) was constructed to help chemists and researchers quickly find alternatives to the harmful chemicals being used at the time. The Syracuse Research Center now has the largest database for this type of information. They are also currently developing a PBT profiler. PBT is the prediction of the persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity of chemical substances. This profiler will screen for the PBT’s in chemicals so that the harmful chemicals will become known, and maybe even changed.

     It has also been a major concern by many organizations to educate people about Green Chemistry. The objective of these groups is to spread the awareness of Green Chemistry principles, alternatives, practices and their benefits in the educational system. This would mean at all levels from graduate, undergraduate and even kindergarten to 12 programs. This is so people will stop using products that are hazardous to themselves and the ecosystem and become more aware of the dangers and unfavorable effects it has had on the environment. Educating people will also allow them to discover means in which they can actually help in this movement