Toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes

Abstract

Worldwide, some 10 million chemical compounds have been synthesized in laboratories since the beginning of this century. Approximately one percent of these organic and inorganic compounds are produced commercially—the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances (EINECS) lists 110 000; and 1000–2000 new chemicals appear each year. Some are used directly, as pesticides and fertilizers, but most are intermediate chemicals used for the manufacture of millions of different end products. There is virtually no area of human activity in which chemical products are not used, and many have benefited man and the environment.