Potential environmental risks aren't part of chemical engineers' training
Friday, September 19, 2008 - 02:14
in Physics & Chemistry
No university in the United States teaches basic toxicology or other environmental sciences to students studying for a traditional chemistry degree, even a doctorate. Chemistry textbooks are devoid of Marty Mulvihill was working in a laboratory with carbon tetrachloride. The lab's supply of the solvent was diminishing, and Mulvihill learned it was being phased out for environmental reasons. Curious, he asked his advisor whether carbon tetrachloride was as bad as he had heard.