This lesson introduces students to the concept of toxic chemicals. Topics include a definition of the term 'toxic', factors that can affect the potential for a chemical to be harmful, and a brief overview of federal agencies that have authority to regulate chemicals in the United States. The lesson includes a a five-part activity in which students use the internet to investigate various toxic chemicals, pollution issues (releases), and some studies on the effects of chemical pollutants in the human body. They will also use data from their household inventories made in the previous exercise (Home Chemicals) to research less hazardous alternatives for each of the products they listed.

Adobe Acrobat reader

No cost

The materials found on this website were created and compiled by the Environmental Science Activity for the 21st Century (ESA21) project's authors for use by educational institutions and the general public. Copyrighted materials from sources other than the ESA21 authors are used with permission from the original creator. A good faith effort has been made to comply with U.S. copyright law. While the ESA21 authors and Kennesaw State University retain copyright to their materials, permission is given to use them freely in electronic and/or print form at educational institutions for non-profit purposes, as long as source and author are indicated. Use of these materials or edited versions of these materials for profit without the written approval of the project authors and Kennesaw state University is strictly prohibited.

This resource requires 'Home Chemicals'

Publisher: Kennesaw State University
Environmental Science Activities for the 21st Century (ESA21)
http://esa21.kennesaw.edu/

Author: Chris Fox
Community College of Baltimore County