Cleaning up chemicals.

Engineers, chemists, and researchers are finding that Nature is a powerful ally in cleaning up the environment. The transformations that occur in Nature--whether the creation of a spider's thread or the decay of a log--provide useful models. Moreover, natural and genetically engineered microorganisms, fungi, plants, and their enzymes have become allies in the removal of pollutants from the environment. They can also prevent further contamination. This bioremediation technology uses microbes to break down oil spills, mushrooms to filter farm-runoff that could pollute streams, and plants to revitalize dead, polluted waters. Plants also pull heavy metals from the soil and into their foliage. After biomass is harvested, the metals can be recycled for industrial use.

Green chemistry holds even more promise than bioremediation for reducing the numbers of toxic chemicals in our environment. Green chemistry designs effective chemicals that follow Nature's lead. "In the past, we've created a mess and then come up with bandages to make it less bad," says Paul Anastas, who heads the Green Chemistry Institute of the American Chemical Society. Instead of using toxic solvents and extreme temperatures and/or pressure (all of which produce pollutants), green chemistry uses renewable, environmentally benign materials and processes, leaving no waste for clean up. "The fundamental idea of green chemistry is that the designer of a chemical is responsible for considering what will happen to the world after the agent is put in place," says John Warner of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Anastas and Warner developed the 12 guiding principles of green chemistry based on the idea:" ... the best form of waste disposal: do not create it in the first place."

Green chemistry is not just a tree-hugger's pipe dream. It has grown into a multimillion dollar business, as more chemical manufacturers realize that the cost of cleaning up their toxic wastes reduces their profits. For green chemistry to thrive in the US, antiquated policy, dictated by the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, must be changed. A March 2006 University of California report for the California legislature found that TSCA gives hazardous chemistry an edge over green chemistry. Because of TSCA, chemical manufacturers do not have to test for toxicity before selling a chemical. If they do test a chemical, the results are supposed to be sent to the Environmental Protection Agency, but the results are confidential. The University of California report, which is supported by a follow-up report, urges legislators to increase transparency and accountability in the chemical marketplace. Thousands of chemicals have entered our environment in recent decades, and thousands more are likely to join them in the coming years. Some have already produced negative effects on the environment and on human health. Manufacturers cannot make an informed choice unless TSCA changes. When it does, green chemistry will compete fairly--and win.

Bioremediation. Wikipedia. April 15, 2008 (last update). Available at: http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioremediation. Accessed April 16, 2008.

Green chemistry. Wikipedia. April 14, 2008 (last update). Available at: http:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_chemistry. Accessed April 16, 2008.

McNally T.Bioneers:Groundbreaking ways to repair the earth. October 19, 2007. Available at: www.alternet.org/story/65599/. Accessed April 9, 2008.

Stamets P. Mushroom power. YES! Magazine. (Spring 2003). Available at: www. yesmagazine.org. Accessed April 26, 2008.

Weise E. Green chemistry takes root. USA Today. November 21, 2004. Available at: www.usatoday.com/news/science/2004-11-21-green_x.htm. Accessed April 16, 2008.

briefed by Jule Klotter