Uncategorized / 20 March 2024 by John

What Instead? Podcast

In the podcast below we hear about Green Chemistry, Alternatives Assessment, what Just Transitions look like for workers and communities, and how Sustainable Businesses, Shareholder Activists, and Consumer Advocates are working hard to make a healthier world for all of us. Featuring Dr. Paul Anastas, Andy Behar, Jose Bravo,Dr. Lauren Heine, David Levine, Stacy Malkan, and Beverley Thorpe,

Credits

Podcast Credits

This has been Unintended Consequences, “A Brief and Recent History of Environmental Health.”

Kelly Hendricks, editor
Kim Thomas, Advisor
Stephenie Hendricks, producer, writer, host.

Special Thanks to:

Dr. Paul Anastas
Andy Behar
Jose Bravo
Lauren Heine
David Levine
Stacy Malkan
Beverly Thorpe

Archival footage was used in this podcast, and we’d like to thank:

Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
Plus TV Africa
Purdue Engineering
Town Meeting TV

Funded in part by the

Peter Wall Institute Catalyst Collaboration Fund

“Unintended Consequences” is a doctoral research project for the University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies Sustainability theme, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies. Dr. Greg Garrard, Principle Investigator. Stephenie Hendricks, Project Lead.

← Previous Lesson

Key Concepts

All | A B C E G H J L R S

Acute Hazards

Will there be an immediate effect from a toxic exposure, for example, a skin rash, burning eyes, coughing, etc.?

Alternatives Assessment

Alternatives assessment answers the question of which chemical is more sustainable (Heine)

Bioaccumulation

1) The accumulation of pollutants in living organisms by direct absorption or through food chains. 2) Accumulation by an organism of materials that are not an essential component or nutrient of that organism. Usually it refers to the accumulation of metals, but it can apply to bioaccumulation of persistent synthetic substances such as organochlorine compounds. The process of bioaccumulation can be employed usefully as a purification process to remove toxic heavy metals from waste water and contaminated land (United Nations Law and Environment Assistance Program).

Biomimicry

“1. Nature as model. Biomimicry is a new science that studies nature’s models and then imitates or takes inspiration from these designs and processes to solve human problems, e.g., a solar cell inspired by a leaf. 2. Nature as measure. Biomimicry uses an ecological standard to judge the ‘rightness’ of our innovations. After 3.8 billion years of evolution, nature has learned: What works. What is appropriate. What lasts. 3. Nature as mentor. Biomimicry is a new way of viewing and valuing nature. It introduces an era based not on what we can extract from the natural world, but on what we can learn from it.” (Janine M. Benyus, Biomimicry. HarperCollins).

ChemForward

NGO that enables companies to share costs of chemicals assessments and access to chemicals databases.

Chronic Hazards

Will toxic exposure take time to produce long-term effects, such as developing cancer, reproductive, or neurological problems?

Confidential Business Information (CBI)

A classification that companies can claim for proprietary (secret) information about their products, enabling them to withhold information from the public.

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

ESG investing is a way of investing in companies based on their commitment to one or more ESG factors. It is often also called sustainable investing, socially responsible investing, and impact investing (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commision).

Green Chemistry

“Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.” (Center for Green Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Yale University).

Green Screen

Chemical hazard assessment tool with Clean Production Action.

Hazard Assessment

Hazard Assessment answers the question of which chemical is less hazardous (Heine).

Just Transition

As we move away from fossil fuel production, how can we have a just transition for workers and communities where these chemicals are made? How can we make sure regrettable substitutions aren’t chosen that might continue toxic exposures to workers, communities, and the environment (Jose Bravo).

Lethal Dose 50 (LD50)

LD50 is the amount of a material, given all at once, which causes the death of 50 percent (one half) of a group of test animals. The LD50 is one way to measure the short-term poisoning potential (acute toxicity) of a material (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety).

Regrettable Substitutions

Chemicals used to replace toxic chemicals that also have hazardous impacts.

Right to Know

A concept that the public has a right to know what is in products on the marketplace.

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment answers whether something is safe enough to use for the particular application (Heine).

Shareholder Activism

A spectrum of activities conducted by shareholders to create change in a corporation (Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance).

Sustainable Business

Refers to doing business without negatively impacting the environment, community, or society as a whole (Harvard Business School).