Although no panacea, green chemistry is definitely helping to eliminate waste by applying new chemical principles and methodologies to product development and production schemes, say Dennis Hjeresen, Paul Anasta, Sylvia Ware, and Mary Kirchhoff. They describe activities that are extending green chemistry into the main stream. The U.S. Geological Survey finds potential microbial degradation of MTBE in surface waters. Global warming and acid rain are stripping lakes of their natural sunscreen, which could lead to a decrease in toxic methylmercury. EPA is expected to release a Web-based screening tool this summer for assessing whether chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.
Scientists are a step closer to understanding carbon flows between ocean and atmosphere.