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Green Chemistry and Chemophobia

  • Scientific Session of the General Meeting of Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences “The Periodic Table of the Chemical Elements as a Universal Language of the Natural Sciences”
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Abstract

The problem of chemophobia is caused by an increasing chemical load on the environment on the one hand and an insufficient level of chemical literacy among the population on the other hand. This paper prepared from the materials of a report presented at the Scientific Session of the General Meeting of the RAS on November 14, 2019, presents the data of sociological studies providing insight into the attitude to chemistry in different countries. Green chemistry may become an efficient tool for overcoming chemophobia and agrochemophobia as a variant of it. It is not a new earlier unknown trend. It is rather a compact formulation of thinking principles for well-trained and socially responsible chemists–scientists or technologists. The latter thesis is confirmed by the active practical application of green chemistry approaches in industry including in Russia. However, not only the business community, but also top-level politicians have begun to try to follow this way of thinking. The United Nations has pointed out that green chemistry is a key science development trend.

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Notes

  1. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/dangers-dihydrogen-monoxide/.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia, 125047, Moscow, Russia

    N. P. Tarasova & A. S. Makarova

  2. Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 109017, Moscow, Russia

    N. P. Tarasova

Authors
  1. N. P. Tarasova
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  2. A. S. Makarova
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Correspondence to N. P. Tarasova or A. S. Makarova.

Additional information

Translated by E. Glushachenkova

RAS Corresponding Member Natalia Pavlovna Tarasova is Chairholder of the UNESCO Chair in Green Chemistry for Sustainable Development, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. Anna Sergeevna Makarova, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), is an Associate Professor of the UNESCO Chair in Green Chemistry for Sustainable Development, Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia.

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Tarasova, N.P., Makarova, A.S. Green Chemistry and Chemophobia. Her. Russ. Acad. Sci. 90, 245–250 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1019331620020161

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