Writings
2006
Making Safer Chemicals
Sustainability Science and Engineering, 1, 2006, 161–175.
Abstract
Today government agencies employ scientific tests and risk to assess the dangers associated with exposure to chemicals identified by scientific or public concern. Once exposure to a substance is demonstrated to result in unacceptable levels of harmfulness, agencies draft regulations to restrict the use of those substances. This represents a problem-focused approach to chemicals management. It is suggested here that a parallel approach is needed that focuses less on the characterization of problems and more on the development of solutions. Such a solution-focused approach would eagerly accept the large accumulation of scientific understanding as a basis for designing chemicals that are safer, cleaner and more environmentally compatible. Solution-seeking approaches to chemical and material development would involve designing chemicals that are not only of high performance and cost effective, but also safer and more sustainable.