Toxic Chemicals

Toxic Chemicals
Author: Thomas E. Higgins
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2016-04-19
Genre: Law
ISBN: 1439839166

Catastrophic events such as the Bhopal, India tragedy and rising incidences of cancer in areas neighboring industrial facilities have heightened concern over the use of toxic chemicals in manufacturing and industry. Based on the authors' research conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil, this book explores the history of toxic chemical release reporting programs, presents data on the toxicity of chemicals currently in use, discusses variables that contribute to the relative toxicity of a substance, compares existing programs for reducing environmental threats, and provides specific recommendations for reducing or eliminating the use of toxic chemicals.

Information Systems and the Environment

Information Systems and the Environment
Author: National Academy of Engineering
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 239
Release: 2001-09-13
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 0309062438

Information technology is a powerful tool for meeting environmental objectives and promoting sustainable development. This collection of papers by leaders in industry, government, and academia explores how information technology can improve environmental performance by individual firms, collaborations among firms, and collaborations among firms, government agencies, and academia. Information systems can also be used by nonprofit organizations and the government to inform the public about broad environmental issues and environmental conditions in their neighborhoods. Several papers address the challenges to information management posed by the explosive increase in information and knowledge about environmental issues and potential solutions, including determining what information is environmentally relevant and how it can be used in decision making. In addition, case studies are described and show how industry is using information systems to ensure sustainable development and meet environmental standards. The book also includes examples from the public sector showing how governments use information knowledge systems to disseminate "best practices" beyond big firms to small businesses, and from the world of the Internet showing how knowledge is shared among environmental advocates and the general public.

Green Chemistry

Green Chemistry
Author: Hosam El-Din M. Saleh
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 191
Release: 2018-02-28
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9535138472

To an increasing extent, "green chemistry" is a new chemical and engineering approach of chemistry and engineering, dedicated to make manufacturing processes and our world as a whole more sustainable world with a growing tendency. "Green chemistry" approaches are based on ecofriendly technologies, aiming to reduce or eliminate the use of solvents, or render them efficient and safer. Moreover, this scientific field is devoted to reduction or elimination of prevailing environmental and health threats, which typically accompany chemical products and traditional processes. The present book "Green Chemistry" contains 9 selected chapters, starting with a general introductory chapter on "green chemistry," and covers many recent applications and developments based on the principles of "green chemistry." This book is considered the appropriate way to communicate the advances in green materials and their applications to the scientific community. Chemists, scientists and researchers from related areas, and undergraduates involved in environmental issues and interested in approaches to improve the quality of life could find an inspiring and effective guide by reading this book.

Measures of Environmental Performance and Ecosystem Condition

Measures of Environmental Performance and Ecosystem Condition
Author: National Academy of Engineering
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 309
Release: 1999-06-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309522331

When Cleveland's Cuyahoga River caught fire in 1969, no environmental measurements were necessary to know the seriousness of the problem. Incidents like the Cuyahoga fire raise an important question: Can catastrophes-in-the-making be detected early enough to be prevented? For those in industry, such disasters point to the need for measures that can improve the environmental performance of processes, products, business practices, and linked industrial systems. In Measures of Environmental Performance and Ecosystem Condition, experts share their insights on environmental metrics. The volume explores the most productive relationship between measures of environmental performance and measures of ecosystem conditions. It reviews current approaches, evaluates structures for business decisionmaking, and includes a matrix for determining the environmental performance of industrial facilities. Case studies include: Development and application of a water-quality rating scheme for streams and reservoirs in the Tennessee Valley. Three years of successful experience with waste metrics at 3M. The book covers the range of environmental performance and condition metrics, from the use of material flow data to monitor environmental performance at the national level to the use of bioassays to measure the toxicity of industrial effluents. This book offers something for everyone--policymakers, executives, engineers, managers, and advocates--with a stake in the measurement of environmental performance and ecological conditions.