Green Engineering: Environmentally Conscious Design of Chemical Processes

Chapter 1An Introduction to Environmental Issues

byDavid R. Shonnard

1.1 Introduction

Environmental issues gained increasing prominence in the latter half of the 20^th century. Global population growth has led to increasing pressure on worldwide natural resources including air and water, arable land, and raw materials, and modern societies have generated an increasing demand for the use of industrial chemicals. The use of these chemicals has resulted in great benefits in raising the standard of living, prolonging human life and improving the environment. But as new chemicals are introduced into the marketplace and existing chemicals continue to be used, the environmental and human health impacts of these chemicals has become a concern. Today, ...