Greening chemistry and ecotoxicology towards sustainable environmental quality

Abstract

Pursuit of sustainable environmental quality is a noble goal, but global megatrends, highlighted by concentration of chemical use in cities faster than implementation of waste management systems, present emerging risks to public health and the environment. Step changes in global environmental assessment and management activities are necessary. Herein, integration of green chemistry with ecotoxicology, which has matured to a mechanistic science, promises to reduce exposures to hazardous substances and support pursuits of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Integrative, comparative and predictive toxicology efforts, if advanced across models, species and scales of biological organization, can catalyze the work of chemists and engineers engaging sustainable molecular design for reduced environmental hazard.