The Chemical Industry
Report Written By: Julia Duffin Grace Skelton & Rachael Opperman
"Since the dawn of the industrial age some 6 million chemical compounds have been synthesized by man. Of these, at least 70,000 are now in common use, with over 1,000 new chemicals entering the market every year. The vast majority are xenobiotic, that is, alien to life."
Imperiled Planet
Utterly unprepared; nature was caught off guard by the tidal wave of artificial elements. Nowhere on earth was there the capability of taking apart these complex new substances put together by man. Many of the sophisticated chemicals; hydro-carbons such as DDT, were based on long molecular chains solid enough to withstand degradation by sunlight, dissolution by water, or breakdown by acids, clay minerals, or metal ions. These chemicals are deadly to the human metabolism and are found on the earth and in its waters. They now remain permanently, able to harm each and every one of us.
VOCABULARY
CHEMICAL: a substance that is produced by or used in a chemical process.
PETRO-CHEMICAL: a chemical derived from petroleum or natural gas.
DIOXIN: a dioxin is a man-made carcinogen that is "bioaccumulative." Dioxins are created during high temperature combustion in municipal and hospital incinerators. For example chlorine bleaching of pulp for paper, and in manufacturing of some pesticides.
PCB: a fluid or waxy solid that was first used in the electronic insulators in the coverings of cables in 1930's.
SYNTHETIC: something not of natural origin; manmade.
HYDRO-CARBON: any of numerous organic compounds, such as benzene and methane, that contain only carbon and hydrogen.
History
In 1635 the chemical industry had its beginning when John Winthrop, of Boston, discovered saltpeter which was used in the manufacturing of gunpowder. During the colonial age, the chemical industry grew slowly mainly due to parliamentary restrictions and limited markets.
Almost two centuries later in 1802, the first black powder plant in the United States was established by Eleuthere Irenee du Pont de Nemours. It was located on the Brandywine river near Wilmington, Delaware. Before 1860 the main demand for chemicals was for use in dyeing. By 1870, the products grew from mere dyes to heavy acids and pharmaceutical preparations.
By WWI the United States had a large chemical industry but lacking in knowledge and facilities to make any sophisticated chemicals. Synthetic pharmaceuticals were one of those sophisticated chemicals which were imported from Germany. With the importation cut off during the war, a synthetic organic chemical industry was developed.
Between WWI and WWII the expansion was in synthetics. The first and most widely used type of plastic, Phenolformaldehyde, was developed during this time. WWII brought further growth in the chemical industry. Since rubber importation was cut of from the East, a large synthetic rubber industry was created almost over night. The facilities for making light metals also increased. High octane gasoline was produced in enormous quantities, giving the allied nations an advantage in aerial warfare. During this time the atomic bomb was created at Los Alamos. Chemists and chemical engineers played an important role in developing large scale manufacturing operations. After WWII, further progress was made in plastics.
During the two world wars, toxic agents were created as weapons. The Germans released a large cloud of chlorine gas upon Belgium in 1915 in the battle of Ypers. That marked the beginning of chemical warfare. Chemical agents were used by both sides through the remainder of the war.
In 1942, President Roosevelt stated that the United States would not initiate the use of poison gases in WWII, but that if the other side did, the US would retaliate on the largest possible scale. After this proclamation, there was a standoff. Neither side used chemical weapons during WWII. At the same time, Germany was developing nerve gas, which is now considered to be one of the most deadly chemicals.
A division of the chemical industry is the petrochemical industry. Petrochemistry uses chemicals derived from petroleum and natural gas to manufacture a wide range of products including plastics, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibers, pesticides etc. The petrochemical industry is currently the fastest growing industrial chemical field and produces the largest number of new chemicals. Most of its products are considered hazardous at some stage in their manufacture. Because of this, the petrochemical industry has been limited and affected by governments environmental regulations.
Timeline
1635 John Winthrop made saltpeter which is used in the manufacture of gunpowder. This marked the beginning of the chemical industry.
1802 Eruthere Du Pont started the first black powder plant
1881 PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyl's) were first synthesized
1909 Plastic invented
1915 * April 22nd WWI: Germany launched chemical warfare for the first time in the battle of Ypers
* Also, Nazi Germany and several other nations developed and stockpiled chemical weapons. 1929 Monsanto (St. Louis Missouri) began producing PCBís commercially
1950 Military and police forces increase their use of non-lethal riot control agents
Mid 1950's The hazards of dioxin were first identified in herbicides
1961 Thalidomide banned after more than 2,500 deformed babies are born to European women who took the drug during pregnancy (morning sickness)
1965 Non-lethal riot control agents to control internal disorders are used on battle fields of Southeast Asia
1968 * Some 6,400 sheep mysteriously died after the army secretly tested deadly chemical agents at the Dugway Proving grounds in Utah
* Steady 6% yearly increase in chemical production starts
1970 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) formed; it set standards on chemical intent on lowering cancer risks
Early 1970's Monsanto created the most potent dioxin, santophen, a household cleaner
1972 * The biological weapons convention signed by the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union and 67 other nations prohibited the development, production, and stockpiling of bacteriological agents and toxins.
* Federal Environmental pesticide control act passed
* Federal Insecticide control act passed
* Fungicide use act passed
* Rodenticide acts passed
1975 First Federal Emergency declared in response to a chemical disaster declared in Niagara Falls in the Love Canal
1976 Explosion at a Swiss-owned chemical plant near Milan throws into open air, a cloud of the highly toxic gas dioxin. Tens of thousands of birds and animals perish and more than 500 children develop skin rashes
1977 October 31st Monsanto chemical Corporation, the sole producer in the United States, stopped producing PCB's
1978 It is proven that 70% to 90% of all cancers are caused by chemical influences (most preventable)
1979 * Thirty-two companies have annual chemical sales of 1 billion or more.
* Forty-five people hospitalized (near Richmond, KY) after a toxic cloud formed over the Lexington Bluegrass army depot. The army had tried to destroy old canisters of nerve gas
1980 * The United Nations conference of the committee of disarmament became increasingly concerned with obtaining an international ban on chemical weapons
* U.S. Surgeon General released a warning to the public of the threat to health by chemicals
* Average cost to produce pesticide product is 10 million dollars
* Eliminating 95% of chlorinated chemicals would cost $20 billion
*Man-made toxic chemicals are declared a significant source of death and disease in the United States.
1983 Monsanto stopped manufacturing Santophen, a household cleaner
1984 A chemical storage tank explodes at a Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India. This released a cloud of lethal Methyl-isocyanate gas. More than 2,000 people were killed and the number of injured totals tens of thousands.
1987 * The U.S. resumed production of chemical weapons
* Soviet Union announced it's halting production of chemical weapons
1988 U.N. report confirmed Iraq had been using chemical weapons in it's war with Iran (first wartime use of these weapons since WWI)
1990 June 1st: The United States and the Soviet Union signed a pact stating that both would immediately stop producing chemical weapons and begin cutting back their stockpiles in 1992
1994 Two DuPont plants led the nation in total toxic releases with 117 million pounds 1995
* 60% sales increase in chemicals
* Electronic chemical suppliers to semi-conductor industry 225 million dollars
Cause/Effect
For the chemical industry, we have chosen the cause and effect topics of chemical handling, consumer demand and the manufacturing process of chemicals. These three topics appear to be the most influential factors concerning the problems of the chemical industry with the environment.
CHEMICAL HANDLING
The way we handle chemicals directly affects our health and well being as a society. In the past we have shown that we are not responsible enough to handle chemicals. Honestly, to this day are we mature enough to handle this task?
In 1942, chemical waste dumping began at Love canal. Hooker Chemical Company consulted the county power company and negotiated with them to use some of their land ("Love Canal") for chemical dumping. An agreement was met and 43.6 million pounds of 83 different types of chemicals were buried underneath the soil. In 1975, the first federal emergency was declared at Love canal. This dumping had become a major problem. Chemicals began to seep to the surface. Medical problems in the area ranged from headaches to miscarriages, which sadly enough werenít uncommon. This incident is an example of corporate irresponsibility. This company wanted to pawn their waste off onto somebody else so that they didnít have to deal with it. Why not dump it into our environment? Well I'm sure they've learned their lesson. Many people involved with the dumping were put in jail as a result of the many repercussions that occurred.
If situations like this one continue, how can we expect mother earth to sustain life for future generations to come? It took 5 billion years to create the intricate thread work of nature. Why destroy her beauty when our children and our childrenís children wonít be able to bask in it's glory. If we want to share this treasure we need to think for the future there is one word to describe the solutions that need to be met: sustainable.
There are many people striving to make our world a better place. The Business Council for Sustainable Development is a group of corporations that all want to better their companies by making them more environmentally safe. It was started by Stephan Schmidheiny. Some of the corporations include Volkswagen, DuPont chemical company, Norgod, Danfoss. Volkswagen invented a new way to paint the car which uses water-based paint instead of oil-based. DuPont now produces less waste, and more environmentally safe products. In 1993 DuPont decreased toxic air emissions by at least 60%, they were set to complete the phase out of CFC's by the year 1997, and by the year 2000, they hope to reduce emissions of carcinogens by 90%. Norgod, a shirt maker, now uses organically grown cotton and they extracted the formaldehyde along with other major chemicals from the dyes to make a more environmentally conscious shirt. Danfoss has said to produce 1 million CFC free compressors for their refrigerators.
These problems also come on a more personal level, in the home. Parents carelessly leave dangerous chemicals within reach of children, or people fail to read directions carefully labeled on bottles of chemicals. Story after story tell of the tragedies of things like this. For instance a 1 year old child got a hold of copper sulfate ( a chemical used in pool cleaning) and ingested it. Because of this, the child now suffers from kidney, liver, and blood disorders.
Whether corporate or social, both have a responsibility and an obligation to the rest of the human race, along with all of the living organisms that inhabit this world. Responsible chemical handling needs to be job one.
CONSUMER DEMAND
No matter how much we deny the fact, there is only one explanation for chemicals continual existence in the world. Consumer demand. No matter how much we learn to hate the products and companies, we support them every day of our lives.
The average home contains 63 toxic chemical products. Many of the most common household products are also toxic at one point or another; batteries, drain cleaners, perfume, ammonia, pesticides, fingernail polish, oven cleaners, spot removers, gasoline, toilet cleaners, adhesives in glue, and the average household plastics. Every day we use at least one of these toxic chemicals. We buy them right off the shelves at stores without a second thought. All of these products have effects ranging from a rash to death if not used carefully. In the past 30 years, there has been a 10-fold increase in the amount of chemical pesticide use. In 1990 alone 1.16 billion pounds of pesticides were used in the United States. Pesticides are one of the most dangerous chemicals in the industry. It's very simple, they are the chemicals we eat.(since a pesticide is sprayed on the foods that we eat) The effects are numerous with death being extremely possible. Pesticides are most commonly used by large corporations in order to rid crops of pests such as aphids.
If our main goal is to work towards a more sustainable future, we need to start thinking of ways to support our environment. By buying the very same chemicals that are harming our environment we are only putting further stress on mother earth. We need to stop buying these chemicals and then the demand will not be so high and most likely over time corporations will stop producing them.
CHEMICAL PROCESS
A large part of the chemical industries conflict with nature comes from not understanding the delicate balance of the earth itself. Developing, evolving, adjustment and diversity are all occurrences which shape the biological lifestyles on earth, lifestyles which have taken a long period of time to balance out. In the process of creating chemicals, we as the producers are ordering nature to automatically adjust and balance out something that is a foreign substance to them. We are asking the earth to go outside the limits of biological experience through the effects and processing of chemical manufacturing.
In the chemical industry there are four processive steps to the manufacturing of chemicals into consumer bought products. The steps are separating, conversion, reorganization and finishing. In these processes, unwanted substances are removed and the chemical itself is made more suitable for consumption by chemical treatments. These chemical treatments are done with the techniques of pressure and heat. These purification processes release various gases and fuels into the air as well as discharges of unwanted liquid most commonly called thermal pollution, which is the releasing of warm water into the atmosphere. As chemical based pollutants such as gases, fuels and acids are released into our air water and earth. The toxicity does not merely effect the earth but dominoes into the invincible human world as well. These effects of the chemical industry come to us in the form of acid rain, or drift down as fall out which creeps into agricultural soil, carries itself into the systems of wildlife and finally enter into human bones where this toxicity will remain until death. Thus proving to be an indestructible poisonous chain. The manufacturing process in the chemical industry continues to be the number one polluter of our environment.
Solutions
There are solutions to these problems on a corporate and personal level. On a corporate level, groups such as the Business Council for Sustainable Development and Superfund are one step closer to reaching the ultimate goal of chemical safety. Corporations should rethink their priorities when cutting corners to save money for safety precautions.
If situations like the ones that have been occurring continue, how can we expect mother earth to sustain life for future generations to come? It took 5 billion years to create the intricate thread work of nature. Why destroy her beauty when our children and our childrenís children won't be able to bask in it's glory. If we want to share this treasure we need to think for the future there is one word to describe the solutions that need to be met: sustainable.
There are many people striving to make our world a better place. The Business Council for Sustainable Development is a group of corporations that all want to better their companies by making them more environmentally safe. It was started by Stephan Schmidheiny. Some of the corporations include Volkswagen, DuPont chemical company, Norgod, Danfoss. Volkswagen invented a new way to paint the car which uses water-based paint instead of oil-based. DuPont now produces less waste, and more environmentally safe products. In 1993 DuPont decreased toxic air emissions by at least 60%, they were set to complete the phase out of CFCís by the year 1997, and by the year 2000, they hope to reduce emissions of carcinogens by 90%. Norgod, a shirt maker, now uses organically grown cotton and they extracted the formaldehyde along with other major chemicals from the dyes to make a more environmentally conscious shirt. Danfoss has said to produce 1 million CFC free compressors for their refrigerators.
Another solution to these chemical problems are biochemicals. These would eliminate the toxin, because they are made from natural resources and produced naturally. So, if accidents occur, it would remain unharmful to the environment.
A safe way of disposing of chemicals is to have a special site. This site would be owned by the government, but operated by appointed environmental specialists. As a consumer, you have the responsibility to make a difference as well. Organic vegetables can be bought instead of ones that are sold at your very own grocery store, buying less chemicals, and supporting organizations such as the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) are all ways to support the replenishing of our environment. Farmers can use alternative methods to pest control. Natural pests are a good idea such as lady bugs which eat other bugs that would prevent the use of pesticides. Another alternative method to pest control is called Integrated Pest Management which is a process in which the bugs are actually vacuumed off the crops. Crop rotation also keeps us from using chemicals. This system is where a new crop is grown in a field on a 2-6 year cycle.
To prevent accidents from happening in the home, one should be sure to read all labels carefully and look for major warnings clearly marked in bold print, chemicals should always be stored in a place out of the reach of children, all chemicals should be clearly labeled to guard against accidental ingestion, directions should be followed closely, and when having children in the home, it is always a good idea to have child-proof caps.
Education plays a large role in the prevention of future chemical disasters to come. If people are educated and know what can come from the use of chemicals, this will help them to better understand the consequences of using, producing, or buying chemical products. "In safeguarding our future, people will also be saving themselves."
" What kind of world do you want to live in? Demand that your teachers teach you what you need to know to build it."
-Peter Kropotkin
Chemical Industry Fact Sheet
1.) In 1635, the chemical Industry had it's beginning when John Winthrop, of Boston, invented saltpeter which was used in the manufacture of gunpowder.
2.) In 1802, the first black powder plant in the United states was established by Ereuthere Irenee du Pont de Nemours. It was located on the Brandywine river near Wilmington, Delaware. Before 1860, the main demand for chemicals was for use in dyeing. By 1870, the products grew from mere dyes to heavy acids and pharmaceutical preparations.
3.) Monsanto began work on saccharin in 1901. Saccharin, today, has been found to cause cancer in laboratory rats. Ex: carefree gum.
4.) Between WWI and WWII the expansion was in synthetics. The first and most widely used type of plastic, phenoformaldehyde, was developed during this time.
5.) During the two world wars, toxic agents were created as weapons.
6.) Petrochemical industry: petrochemistry uses chemicals derived from petroleum and natural gas to manufacture a wide range of products, including plastics, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibers, pesticides, etc.
7.) In the early 1970's, Monsanto produced a chemical called TCDD; which can be found in 127 different household cleaners such as liquid Lysol. Monsanto denied allegations that TCDD had health risks, but stopped the production of it in 1983.
8.) 1970's: a study found that the main reason for deformation in wild birds was due to dioxin.
9.) Everyday things that are toxic: fingernail polish, gasoline, batteries, perfume, pesticides, drain cleaners, oven cleaners, ammonia, household plastics, spot removers, adhesives in glues, toilet cleaners and lawn chemicals.
10.) Average home contains 63 toxic chemical products.
11.) There are over 10,000 deaths per year due to pesticides.
12.) There has been a 10-fold increase in the amount of chemical pesticides used in the past 30 years.
13.) In 1990 alone, the United States used 1.16 billion pounds of pesticides.
14.) Environmental Protection Agencies have found that 67 out of the roughly 300 pesticides cause cancer.
15.) 90% of pesticides never reach their intended targets.
16.) In 1929, Monsanto began producing PCBí\'s commercially. This stopped in 1977 because of the ban put on itís production.
17.) PCB's (polychlorinated biphenylís): a fluid of waxy solid that was first used in the electronic insulators in the coverings of cables in the 1930's.
18.) Chemical pest control began in 1934 with the discovery of the insecticidal properties of DDT by Swiss chemist Paul Muller.
19.) Polar bear's diet on Seals has directly affected the levels of PCBís in their system. Between the years of 1969 and 1984, there was a 4-fold increase in the levels of PCB's in polar bear's body fat. If this continues, polar bears will have enough PCB's in their system to be legally considered as toxic waste.
20.) MIC is a powerful irritant, causing burning and swelling of moist tissues such as eyes, mouth, nasal passages, and lungs.
21.) On October 22nd, 1993, DuPont promised to end their production of CFC's by the year 1997.
22.) Dioxins accumulate in the breast milk of expecting mothers, and the nursing infants may be exposed to 10-20 times the dioxin levels of adults.
23.) Babies in the womb who are exposed to dioxins are 100 times more vulnerable to the effects of dioxins than adults.
24.) 90% of human exposure to dioxin is believed to come from food or the consumption of animal products.
25.) Dioxin has been found to be 11,000 times more potent than the deadly poison sodium cyanide.
26.) There were 43.6 million pound of toxic chemicals buried at Love Canal.
27.) Bhopal: 50,000 pounds of gas was released when water seeped into an MIC tank. Medical experts estimate 15,000 dead, and 300,000 injured - nearly 1/3 the total city population.