Industrial Chemicals

Industrial chemicals are widespread in consumer products and in the environment. A large number of industrial chemicals are known to cause harm to our environment and to our health. Industrial chemicals are used for solving problems, though the consequences or the price to be paid, in the form of environmental degradation and poor public health is not known.

Commercially available industrial chemicals are used as starting materials or precursors, in the production of chemical agents. Industrial chemicals include chlorine, ammonia, solvents, pesticides, fertilizers and petrochemicals such as ethylene glycol and chlorinated hydrocarbons (such as chloroform and TCE). Industrial chemicals are extensively used in plastic manufacturing. Many toxic industrial chemicals might be used as weapons. For example, methyl isocyanate, the deadly gas that killed thousands in Bhopal, India.