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@article{192080,
        author = {P.V. Bhavani Shankar},
        title = {The Impact of Chemical Compounds on Environmental Sustainability},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {},
        volume = {12},
        number = {no},
        pages = {66-78},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=192080},
        abstract = {Chemical compounds are fundamental to a vast array of natural and industrial process chemical compounds underpin modern agriculture, energy manufacturing and remediation technologies enabling higher productivity. Renewable energy storage and pollutant treatment. Simultaneously the production, use and disposal of many synthetic chemicals. Including persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals, endocrine disruptors and non-bio degradable polymers drive bio-diversity loss, eco system degradation, bio accumulation and increased greenhouse gas emission.
Life –cycle assessments reveal that impacts vary widely by compound class, application and management practice substitution and improved process control can substantially reduce net environmental burden emerging approaches such as green chemistry, circular material flows, biodegradable alternatives, catalytic process intensification and advanced monitoring offer pathways to reconcile chemical utility with sustainability goals. The review concludes that achieving environmental sustainability requires holistic assessment of chemical impacts across life cycles, targeted innovation in chemical design and waste management and coordinated policy frameworks to minimize risks w Background:
The rapid expansion of the global chemical industry has significantly improved human living standards through advancements in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science. However, the escalating presence of synthetic and hazardous chemical compounds in the environment now poses a critical threat to the "safe operating space" of planetary boundaries.
Objectives: This study examines the multifaceted relationship between chemical compounds and environmental sustainability, specifically analyzing how industrial, agricultural, and domestic chemicals disrupt ecological balance and exploring the role of Green Chemistry in mitigating these risks.
Key Findings:Chemical impacts are categorized across three primary environmental compartments:
•	Atmosphere: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) like $CO_2$ and $CH_4$ drive climate change and smog formation. Persistent compounds, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), contribute to stratospheric ozone depletion.
•	Hydrosphere: The discharge of untreated industrial effluents and the runoff of nitrogen-based fertilizers lead to eutrophication, depleting dissolved oxygen and creating "dead zones" in aquatic ecosystems. Emerging contaminants, including microplastics and pharmaceuticals, introduce endocrine disruptors that affect aquatic reproduction.
•	Lithosphere: Excessive pesticide use and heavy metal accumulation (e.g., lead, cadmium) degrade soil health, altering microbial communities and reducing long-term agricultural productivity.
The Path Forward: Green Chemistry & Sustainability: To achieve absolute environmental sustainability, the industry is transitioning from reactive pollution control to "benign-by-design" principles. This includes:
1.	Atom Economy: Maximizing the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product to minimize waste.
2.	Renewable Feedstock’s: Shifting from petroleum-based precursors to bio-based materials.
3.	Design for Degradation: Ensuring chemical products break down into innocuous substances after their functional life, preventing bioaccumulation in food chains.
Conclusion: While chemical compounds are indispensable to the global economy, their current trajectory often conflicts with ecological limits. Achieving environmental sustainability requires a paradigm shift toward circular chemical management, stringent regulatory frameworks, and the widespread adoption of green technologies to harmonize industrial output with the Earth’s regenerative capacity.},
        keywords = {.},
        month = {},
        }