Extension's Future Role J. David Deshler Associate Professor Extension, Continuing and Adult Education Cornell University Ithaca, New York Chemicals and Community Risks Future society will depend more rather than less on chemicals. Thus, the future quality of our lives requires preventing chemically induced hazards to health and safety. Today, there are an estimated 60,000 different chemicals used in the workplace, with the number increasing rapidly every year. Our modern way of life has become dependent on chemicals. Many are hazards to human health, while some threaten the sustainability of life on our planet.
Chemicals can get into the environment many ways, both deliberately and accidentally.
What we don't know about their presence can hurt us. We have a right to know about chemicals that may harm us in our environment, both now and in the future. This article is about what Extension can do in the future to assure that right. Also included in the concept was the right to information about each worker's exposure to such substances. Cincinnati followed, along with several California cities.