Explanation A chemical is considered a toxin when it causes harm to humans, and the toxicity of the chemical is measured by scientists. There is not too much data, which reveals that the trace amount of chemicals can also affect human health. There is a controversy between the scientists, some say, a trace amount of the chemicals does not harm the human health because the average life expectancy is increasing in many countries, and some believe that the small amount of the toxins can accumulate into the human body and may have long-term effects on life processes. Involvement of many factors in the estimation of the toxicity of a chemical is the reason for knowing so little about the harmful effects of chemicals. There are limitations in the methods and the risks for estimating the toxicity of the chemicals, so scientists set some levels of exposure to toxic chemicals. Therefore, most of the countries do not supervise the use of many chemicals because of the lack of sufficient data and high cost of regulation. The precautionary principle describes the actions that must be considered to be uncertain when a toxin, activity, or technology can harm humans. Many scientists emphasized on pollution prevention in which they were looking for the way to remove toxic substances from the environment, which affects the human's health. According to this rule, people should not release harmful toxic chemicals into the environment, or they should recycle that chemical. However, according to the precautionary principle, people should consider that every newly produced chemical is harmful until any scientific study is brought forth...

The controversy over the effects of traces of chemicals. The reason for knowing so little about the harmful effects of chemicals. The term precautionary principle. The reason for the fact that the use of pollution prevention based on the precautionary principle to deal with health threats from chemicals is controversial. The efforts that can be used to apply this principle on national and international levels. The U.N. Minamata Convention for reducing mercury pollution. The way by which 3M company is paid by pollution prevention.

Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)

15th Edition

ISBN: 9781305090446

Author: G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman

Publisher: Cengage Learning

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Chapter 14, Problem 8CR

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The controversy over the effects of traces of chemicals. The reason for knowing so little about the harmful effects of chemicals. The term precautionary principle. The reason for the fact that the use of pollution prevention based on the precautionary principle to deal with health threats from chemicals is controversial. The efforts that can be used to apply this principle on national and international levels. The U.N. Minamata Convention for reducing mercury pollution. The way by which 3M company is paid by pollution prevention.

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Chapter 14, Problem 7CR

Chapter 14, Problem 9CR

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