Chemical Pollution of the Environment: Past, Present and Future

Abstract

In an era of 'global environmental change' people are concerned about emissions of CO_2, CH_4, N_2O and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) to the atmosphere because of their direct impact on global warming and their stratospheric ozone-depleting effects. Unprecedented efforts have been made to reduce the global emissions of CFCs. Major industries, which are competing within the modern global economy, have recognized the importance of maintaining a 'green' perspective. Future operations will be designed to reduce the direct emissions of chemical by-products to air, water and soil, and to recycle and to reuse critical solvents such as water. 'Star Wars' technologies for the rapid, economical and effective elimination of industrial and domestic wastes will be developed and employed on a large scale. Advanced technologies for the control and monitoring of chemical pollutants on regional and global scales will be developed and implemented. Satellite-based instruments will be able to detect, to quantify, and to monitor a wide range of chemical pollutants. Our understanding of the fate and consequences of chemicals in the environment will increase dramatically such that we shall be able to predict the environmental, ecological and biochemical consequences of novel synthetic molecules with much greater precision.

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