‘Greening’ School Chemistry Labs

Tougher environmental laws and concern for students are prompting many schools to consider new ways of teaching chemistry and other sciences. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Tom Rogers reports:

Transcript

Tougher environmental laws and concern for students are prompting many schools to consider
new ways of teaching chemistry and other sciences. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Tom
Rogers reports:


Teachers in Illinois are being introduced to what’s being called “green chemistry” – using much
smaller amounts of hazardous chemicals – or none at all – to conduct experiments for
demonstration.


Bill Nelson is a chemical process specialist with the University of Illinois. He says not only is
green chemistry safer for students, it won’t leave behind a legacy of chemicals needing disposal.
Nelson says there’s no reason to worry that students won’t get the full impact of working with
larger supplies of chemicals.


“Students will be taught a healthy respect for chemicals, but what we’re trying to do is limit the
chemicals that are used in the classroom laboratories to as minimal as possible so that down the
road we don’t face the difficulties oftentimes we face now with disposal.”


Nelson says one prime example is mercury – it was widely used in classrooms until it was linked
to a variety of illnesses. Now schools are trying to roundup old mercury supplies and dispose of
them properly.


For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, I’m Tom Rogers.

Old Treated Lumber Unsafe?

A new nationwide test for arsenic in treated lumber contradicts the EPA’s assurances that the wood is safe. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:

Transcript

A new nationwide test for arsenic in treated lumber contradicts the EPA’s assurances that the wood is safe. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Lester Graham reports:


The EPA stated earlier this year that it did “not believe there is any reason to remove
or replace arsenic-treated structures.” The EWG – the Environmental Working Group –
coordinated a testing program of older backyard decks and playsets that use preservative-treated lumber. Consumers bought 263 test kits and sent samples to a university lab. Jon Corsiglia is with EWG.


“Well, the analysis is in direct contradiction to what EPA has been advising folks in that
the analysis shows older decks are leaking arsenic at just as high of levels as newer structures.”


The EWG suggests that people wash their hands after touching the wood, not let children play on the surfaces, and use a plastic table cloth on picnic tables made of treated wood. It also suggests replacing often-touched surfaces such as handrails with other materials.


For the Great Lakes Radio Consortium, this is Lester Graham.