Feature
WEBSITE DEMYSTIFIES CHEMICALS FOR THE PUBLIC By Lucy Frigon
CHEMICAL SCIENTISTS AND engineers in all fields are passionate and proud of what they do. They all share one ultimate goal: to help make the world a better place to live. However, over the years, many have had to develop a thick skin because few of their achievements are known, and little positive news about chemistry is mentioned in the media. Instead, we hear a lot of negatives. The frustrating part is that a significant portion of these negative statements may not be justified. Why? Perhaps in large part because of popular myths, lack of knowledge and misinformation. So, what can the chemical community do? We can organize ourselves and share our knowledge in a way that is easy to understand for non-scientists. We can assist a range of people— parents, teachers, bureaucrats, etc.—to help them make sense of household chemicals and their perceived or real danger. We’ve taken one important step in this direction. The Canadian Chemical Producers’ Association (CCPA) has partnered with the Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) and Dr. Joe Schwarcz to create the new website, www.chemicallyspeaking.com. It is an easy-to-understand, go-to source that demystifies the role of chemicals in our daily lives. Through videos, reference articles and commentaries, the website sheds light on issues and helps make sense of perceived or real chemical risks. How often have we heard about this or that chemical in baby shampoo, shower curtains, plastic bottles and so on? Or all those chemicals that end up in our blood because of our environment? It always sounds alarming, and
people are legitimately concerned about their health and that of their loved ones. Are these serious threats? Can people believe what they hear in the media? Now, when they worry about a chemical-related issue that’s in the public eye, people can turn to www.chemicallyspeaking.com to help identify and demystify myths and misinformation in a vocabulary that is accessible to anyone. Often, there is not a clear-cut right or wrong answer, but it is important to be aware of what’s out there and be able to separate myth from truth: www.chemicallyspeaking. com aims to do just that.
The website will also help people realize that decisions they make every day in their house, backyard, car or workplace have an impact— “chemically speaking.” For example, did you drink orange juice this morning as your dose of vitamin C or did you choose grapefruit juice instead? Depending on the type of medication you already take, this decision may have an impact on your health. In the backyard, how do you maintain your lawn? Did you have coffee, and did you have it in a reusable mug or in a paper cup on your drive to work? What are your kids’ toys made of? How do you package leftovers at home or carry water around? Do you use sunscreen? These questions are related to decisions people make every day that are associated with chemicals.
www.chemicallyspeaking.com is fortunate to count on a recognized, trusted partner. Joe Schwarcz is the director of McGill University’s Office for Science and Society. He is well known for his efforts at interpreting science for the public and for demonstrating the importance of understanding chemistry as it pertains to daily life. He explains facts in straightforward layman’s terms, and he truly has a talent for putting facts into perspective. His calm approach is simple and makes sense. “Chemicals in and of themselves are not safe or dangerous, there are only safe or dangerous ways to use chemicals,” Schwarcz says. He adds that: “Many natural substances can be dangerous if taken by the wrong person or in the wrong quantity. Conversely, many chemicals that are perceived as harmful may not be when used responsibly. The idea of this website is to have a trusted source for making choices.” www.chemicallyspeaking.com pledges to remain unbiased and will not be influenced by CCPA and its member societies or partners, by the CIC or any other entity. It will remain independent and seek to present facts as they are. The new website is a positive initiative of CCPA that was shared with the CIC. It is now a component of the overall CIC Public Understanding of Chemistry Program. As it develops and grows, we invite you to get to know it and direct people to it whenever they wonder about chemicals in their everyday life. A Lucie Frigon is the Communications Manager for the Chemical Institute of Canada. She can be reached at lfrigon@cheminst.ca. Catalyst Fall 2009 • 11