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Global Risk-Based Management of Chemical Additives II pp 109–136Cite as

Are Chemicals in Products Good or Bad for the Society? – An Economic Perspective

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Part of the book series: The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry ((HEC,volume 23))

Abstract

Humans have introduced a large number of chemical substances into products over the past century. We use the chemicals since they provide utility for the product itself, and thereby for the society. However, since many chemicals are toxic and harmful for both the environment and human health, and as they are emitted from the products during its lifecycle, the social benefits of using them are reduced. According to standard economic theory, the value of the product is equal to its price. However, in most cases the full cost of a product is rarely shown in the price of the product. Even though the product is being purchased by an individual or a company, the impact of the product will affect other than the buyer of the product. There are also unknown impacts that can affect both the buyer and the producer of the product or a third party. These impacts are in economic terminology often summarized as “externalities” (external impacts). External impacts might be negative or positive. Also, they can come in many different shapes. They are external because the affected party does not receive any compensation and the polluter does not need to pay without being obliged. This chapter gives a fast version of environmental economics needed for understanding of the topic and discusses different socio-economic aspects related to chemicals in products with the aim to give an overview of the subject.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, 53021, 400 14, Göteborg, Sweden

    Stefan Åström, Maria Lindblad, Jenny Westerdahl & Tomas Rydberg

Authors
  1. Stefan Åström
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  2. Maria Lindblad
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  3. Jenny Westerdahl
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  4. Tomas Rydberg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan Åström .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institute of Waste Management and Contam, Dresden University of Technology, Pratzschwitzer Str. 15, Pirna, 01796, Sachsen, Germany

    Bernd Bilitewski

  2. , CERTEC, UPC – Polytechnic University of Cataloni, Pavelló G. 6471a Planta, Barcelona, 08028, Spain

    Rosa Mari Darbra

  3. , Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, c/Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona, 08034, Spain

    Damià Barceló

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Åström, S., Lindblad, M., Westerdahl, J., Rydberg, T. (2012). Are Chemicals in Products Good or Bad for the Society? – An Economic Perspective. In: Bilitewski, B., Darbra, R., Barceló, D. (eds) Global Risk-Based Management of Chemical Additives II. The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, vol 23. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/698_2012_184

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