Green Chemistry and Technology

Rational Molecular Design for Reduced Toxicity

Rational Molecular Design for Reduced Toxicity is the use of information from empirical, mechanistic and computational methods to create chemicals that are less toxic to humans and the environment. Hundreds of thousands of chemicals are currently in use.

They are the basis of the products and processes we depend on in nearly every aspect of our lives. However, only a small percentage of those available chemicals have been tested for safty.It is the fundamental responsibility of chemists to design and synthesize safe chemicals. In order to reduce toxics in the products we already use and in their supply chains, future molecules must be built with intention and with the whole life cycle in mind. This perspective can enable chemists to prioritize safety, even in earliest stages of chemical design.