This information is then made available to Betz's customers who use it when they are applying to a government or regulatory agency for permits to discharge process water after it has been used. In fact, most chemists in the field would probably describe themselves more specifically by the work they do. This may be collecting and analyzing samples, developing remediation programs, changing production processes to ones that yield a more environmentally friendly product, advising on safety and emergency response, or dealing with government regulations and compliance issues. Often their work is done in an indoor lab environment. However, when studying the fate and effects of chemicals in the environment, a river bed or stream may become their lab.
Some companies have sophisticated indoor ecosystems in which they test their products.
Others collect data outside and miles away from their own production sites. The chemical industry employs a huge number of chemists to ensure that a company is in compliance with government regulations. Government agencies such as the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Defense, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also hire chemists for environmental work. In addition, waste management companies employ chemists to do consulting or remediation. Because environmental chemistry is so interdisciplinary, excellent communication skills, teamwork, the ability to associate with people and express ideas efficiently to a nonscientific audience are all important.