Ss23-01 the Chemical “Sector” Is More Than the Chemical Industry

The chemical industry is one part of the sector of society, global impact, and framework for the use of chemicals in modern society. The chemical industry is production, design, distribution, guidance on use, and integration with the economy. It is also a framework for population health management. The chemical “sector” includes the workers, clients, customers, community residents, insurers, experts, and end users of chemical production. The chemical sector is an issue of sustainability, both globalization and hyperlocal risk management, and modernization of the economy into sustainability. The chemical sector must represent effective risk management, “green” alternatives, healthy lifestyles, “safe, healthy, and decent work” (as formulated by the World Health Organization) and a high level of productivity unimpeded by constraints of health risk. Effective population health management leads to increased quality of life, decreased burden of disease and disability, decreased demand for health services, and decreased costs. Equally important is the union of health protection and sustainability: environmental, economic, and social. The public is often fearful of new findings in part because they lack the context with which to interpret them and in part because they fear risk being imposed upon them without their understanding or participation. For them, the natural and logical response is to be very conservative in accepting risk. The public should participate in a chemical sector that is responsive to their concerns, inclusive in involving all stakeholders, and dedicated to sustainability.