CHEMISTRY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PUBLIC

The article represents a general reflection of the increasing and unfo unded mistrust of the public towards chemistry in connection with the progressive deterioration of the environment. On the basis of carefull y chosen arguments, evidence is provided that chemistry and chemical t echnology (industry) including chemical products represent only a mino r group of many various factors which in the whole negatively influenc e the quality of our environment. Moreover, vast amounts of anthropoge nic substances with the character of chemical compounds (e.g. SO2, NO( x), volatile organics, heavy metals etc.) present in the environment o riginate to a greater extent from processes for which chemistry, chemi cal industry or chemists are not responsible (e.g. combustion processe s). In conclusion, it is shown that.the causes of our global ecologica l crisis lie.in the field of much more serious factors connected espec ially with the present way of life in most industrial societies and th e only solution of this problem is the application of the principles o f sustainable development. This principles have been adopted by many e nvironmentally oriented international organizations (e.g. UNEP, IUCN, WWF) and recently also by the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1 992 and even by several leading political personalities as- A. Gore an d G. H. Brundtland.