C3.4 What can we do to make our use of chemicals safe and sustainable?
A large number of industrial chemicals exist and have a range of uses, these uses include consumer products. There is too little data on the safety of these chemicals to judge whether they are likely to pose any RISK to human health and the environment. Some chemicals used in SYNTHETIC MATERIALS are harmful in large doses but not in the concentration used in the products. PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS (POPs) are a class of chemicals that take a long time to break down and can harm people and wildlife. Because they take so long to break down they can be carried over LARGE DISTANCES in air and water. POPs accumulate in the fatty tissues of animals – including humans. Exposure can lead to illness and in severe cases death.
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE (PVC) – PVC is a polymer that contains carbon, hydrogen and chlorine atoms:
PLASTICIZERS can be added to PVC to make it softer and more flexible, so that the range of uses can be expanded. Scientists have now found that the plasticizers can be leached from the plastic into the surroundings where they may have harmful effects.
It is possible to make a product from different materials – for example a window frame can be made from wood or PVC. The LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT for a product will depend on the material that it is made from
It is also possible to use the same material to make different products – for example polythene can be used to make cling film or a bucket. The LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT of different products will be different, even though they are made from the same material.
A LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT can be used to compare and evaluate the impact of:
- The use of different materials for the SAME job
- The use of the same materials for DIFFERENT