3. Chemicals Designed to be Toxic
3. Chemicals Designed to be Toxic |
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| All chemicals pose some degree of hazard, either alone or in various combinations. It is the dose of a chemical that determines whether or not it is harmful to humans and other organisms--even water can be toxic at extremely high doses. Chemists have learned how to handle chemicals and control chemical reactions so as to minimize any risk to humans and the environment. The chemical industry is continually finding better ways to make synthetic chemicals and their production safer, and to eliminate waste products that could damage the environment – the aim of so-called “green chemistry.” | |
| However, some chemicals are deliberately designed to be toxic! For example, the pharmaceutical industry creates many chemicals that, if the dose is right, can kill pathogenic bacteria and viruses without harming the host organism. Other chemicals are designed to poison cancer cells in the human body. The agrochemical industry synthesizes chemicals that kill insects, fungi, weeds, rodents and other pests that could destroy our food supply. These toxic chemicals can be beneficial to humans, provided they are designed to target only things that cause harm and are used in a careful and responsible manner. | |
| Certain toxic chemicals have been created or misused for a completely different purpose, however – to kill or injure humans. Let’s examine the use and production of chemical weapons. | |
