Chemicals and Safety #3: MSDS
When you buy a new car you get a user’s manual. In just the same way, when you buy a …
Safety
Chemicals and Safety #2
How do we know if a particular chemical is safe to use? Well, there are a number of things we …
Chemicals and Safety
One of the most common questions I get asked is “is so-and-so chemical safe?” I think there are two reasons …
Chemical Toxins in Clothes?
There have been several cases of people experiencing chemical irritation or burns from shoes, shirts, and even furniture, with one …
Asbestos – Nature’s Nasty Surprise
Last week, there was a fire in West Perth. I don’t know anything about it other than what I heard …
BPA in Plastics
A few weeks back a listener asked about BPA (Bisphenol A) in plastics. I was going to chase it up …
Do Cast Iron Saucepans Contain Lead?
Last week on my radio show I was asked whether cheaper brand cast iron saucepans might contain lead? It’s quite …
Ammonium Nitrate: the Jekyll and Hyde Chemical
Chemistry contains a few Jekyll and Hydes. There are chemicals, like DDT, that are capable of achieving great good and …
The Chemistry of Pollution #4
We have seen that there are several mechanisms by which chemicals degrade in the environment. There is chemical oxidation, UV …