Importance / Impact of Chemicals Industry

Impact of Chemicals Industry:

Applications of chemical science have contributed significantly to the advancement of human civilization by providing a growing understanding and ability to manipulate chemical molecules. Chemistry controls the tastes and flavors of the food we eat, the scents we wear, the look and feel of our clothes, and how the world appears around us. Chemical behavior and the interaction of elements and molecules give us the energy we need to heat our homes, drive our cars, and to power our lives. This chemical behavior governs the distribution of the natural resources that we need and the industrial processes required to extract them. In turn, we rely on chemistry to turn them into products we rely on every day. Chemical Industry produces 70000 different types of products that are used by individuals as well as other industries. The chemical sector is of strategic importance to the sustainable development of national economies and plays a vital role in the economic development of any country.  As per the estimates that there are up to 20 million people employed in the global chemical industries today.

The chemical domain plays a vital role as an applied science in diverse areas that influence human society ranging from economic, environmental, and political stability.  The chemical industry has been instrumental in human development and products created by the chemicals industry have had an effect on a number of areas, such as agriculture, hygiene, food, painting, and petro-chemistry, etc.

The chemical industry is considered a societal problem solver; it synthesized crop-enhancing agricultural chemicals to ensure constant and viable food supply, helped in the eradication of deadly diseases by developing life-saving pharmaceuticals and chemical pesticides, developed innovative plastics and synthetic fibers for use in a both industrial and consumer products. Over the years the chemical industry has been a vital sector of the modern industrialized economy.

Some of the high technology industries based on chemical science are agricultural chemicals, ceramics, electronic reagents, glass, paints and solvents, metals and alloys, petrochemical,  feedstocks,  paper, pharmaceuticals, plastics and rubbers, soaps and detergents,  synthetic fibers and the list is endless with more than 60,000 to 70,000 different chemicals being used commercially today.

Importance of the Chemicals Industry in Agriculture:

The agricultural industry makes use of many different chemicals. Fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and pesticides are all used to protect crops. Chemical companies contribute to the development of sustainable crops by producing slow-release fertilizers that plants can use more efficiently.  Because smaller amounts of these fertilizers are required, less energy is used.  In addition, reduced runoff decreases contamination of water systems and subsequent release of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. The end result is a markedly improved means of growing crops. Many chemical companies have also developed crops that are drought tolerant or pesticide-resistant, and these properties reduce environmental impact by allowing no-till farming and other “green” practices.  These products help sustain higher yields, reduce the loss of crops, and decrease the level of natural toxins produced by bacteria and fungi.

All of these products must undergo an approval process and be deemed safe before they can be used on crops. Many chemical companies are pioneers in the development of seeds, both traditional and genetically modified.  They are involved in the production and delivery of fertilizers and soil conditioners.  Development and scale-up of processes for effecting chemical transformations and separations of solids, liquids, and gases are the specialties of many companies engaged in producing a commodity and specialty chemicals. 

Impact of Chemicals Industry on the Environment:

Environmental science is the study of the interactions between the physical, chemical, and biological elements of the environment. For chemists, this applies to understand the interactions on a molecular scale. This can involve aspects of climate change, conservation, biodiversity, groundwater and soil contamination, use of natural resources, waste management, air pollution, and noise pollution. Chemistry has traditionally been viewed as a scientific tool that could harness natural resources to enhance our lives. However, the production, processing, and use of chemicals in modern society have been accompanied by global-scale environmental pollution, natural resource depletion, and health impacts. However, now the focus is shifting to the development of less toxic chemical products with specific functional properties. Now, the chemical industry has brought its expertise and capital investment into action for solving environmental problems for over fifty years. The industry is continuing to expand its roles in energy efficiency, trace chemical detection and mitigation, applications of natural biochemical materials and processes, and water and air pollution control technology development and application.  The industry expects to be a major contributor to expanding the science and technology that supports life cycle environmental assessment and sustainable development policies. 

Importance of the Chemicals Industry in Hygiene & Health:

Chemical Sciences help us gain an understanding of the development reasons of the various diseases like cancer, help us improve care and protection by diagnostics and sensors for the prevention and detection of deadly diseases.  The chemical sciences will be able to answer many of the challenges of the 21st century including improving health protection and care. Even the detergents are made up of a combination of ingredients, including soap and other surfactants. They are used for washing fabrics, dishes, kitchen utensils, hard surfaces, and laundry.

Chemicals Industry and Sustainable Energy Solutions:

The major cause of global warming is the combustion of fossil fuels and subsequent emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and reductions in manmade gas emissions are imperative to halt the rise in global temperatures and the negative impact this will have on our climate. The only way to achieve this is through the conservation of current supplies and the development of new technologies. The chemical sciences will play a key role by helping us manage waste products from energy production and help to reduce the energy demand of domestic living.

Importance of Chemical Sciences on Food:

Food chemistry is the study of chemical processes and interactions of all biological and non-biological components of foods. This discipline also encompasses how products change under certain food processing techniques and ways either to enhance or to prevent them from happening. An example of enhancing a process would be to encourage fermentation of dairy products with microorganisms that convert lactose to lactic acid; an example of preventing a process would be stopping the browning on the surface of freshly cut Red Delicious apples using lemon juice or other acidulated water. Similarly, chemicals, such as salt, spices, and sulfides, have been added to food for centuries, both to improve taste and help with preservation. The processed food industry depends on the identification of new additives that can help preserve the foods. Similarly, food emulsifiers are used in salad dressings, margarine, and ice cream. Another example could be the use of citric acid to enhance the flavor of lemon or lime soft drinks.