Green Chemistry and Health Protection in the Chemical Industry

Introduction
Green chemistry is the chemists’ response to the need to protect the environment. Its principles envisage the design of ways of production that minimise the release of harmful substances into the environment, by making production processes inherently cleaner. These same ways are apt to enhance the health-ness of the entire production process. The paper highlights benefits for work-place health improvements inherent in the green chemistry principles and practices.

Methods
The green chemistry objectives and criteria are synthesised by its twelve principles. The paper analyses the principles and their practical implications from the point of view of health-protection efficacy in the chemical industry, and considers the overall effects of the combination of simultaneous measures corresponding to as many green chemistry criteria as possible.

Results
Documenting the significance and potentialities of green chemistry options for health protection in the chemical industry is part of the dissemination of information about already available techniques, as well as about challenges for further research. Green chemistry offers optimal pathways for the “from research to practice” links in the chemical industry. In the paper, the analysis is supported by the consideration of concrete examples from industries or production processes that have already adopted green chemistry options. Particular attention is given to the prevention nature of the options(prevention/avoidance of exposure to harmful or toxic substances, minimisation of accidents’ risks, etc.).

Discussion
Although green chemistry is more widely known for its expected positive impacts on environmental protection and its expected roles to make development sustainable, one of its major envisaged benefits regards the protection of human health in the work place. Therefore, extensive interfaces and synergies between green chemistry and occupational health can be expected to bring important benefits to the design of chemical processes and chemical substances that can maximise the work place health-ness in the chemical industry.