requirement for discussion of chemi cal risk. Such communication does not occur without effort; it is a skill that must be learned, developed, and practiced. The process must include scientists, media specialists, chemi cal manufacturers, government offi cials, and regulatory representatives, and it must be directed toward the general public. The goal must be to make the public a partner in deci sions affecting the use of chemicals in the market, the workplace, and the environment. An important point t h a t Covello makes is that the public must under stand that no chemical can be certi fied as completely safe, but that its risks can be evaluated. An educated public should ask, "How safe is it?" rather than "Is it safe?" Information about chemicals must be presented honestly and clearly. Covello stresses that teachers and schools must also become involved. Issues such as chemical testing, haz ard evaluation, and risk assessment should be taught in the schools. Cur ricula for these topics for all grade levels need to be developed. Covello summarizes, "Given the
high degree of public concern about environmental issues and the high level of public distrust of those in in dustry and government, people re sponsible for assessing and manag ing chemical risks have no choice but to improve their risk communication skills." Evaluation of environmental risk begins in the lab. Through a battery of analytical techniques and new de velopments, such as multispectral analysis, compounds found in the en vironment can be detected and iden tified. Only when compounds are identified can t h e i r benefits and risks can be assessed. After chemical risks are evaluated and discussed, decisions regarding use and exposure can be made. In some cases the bene fits may outweigh the risks; in others they may not. But a decision made by an educated, informed public is the result of effective risk assessment and communication. Such decisions are possible only when scientists, manufacturers, regulatory officials, media representatives, and the gen eral public deliberate together, using the best possible analytical informa tion. Jane K. Baker
References (1) McGuire, J. M. Prog. Water Technol. 1975, 7, 23-31. (2) Hoyland, J. R.; Neher, M. B. Implemen tation of a Computer-Based Information Sys tem for Mass Spectral Identification; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1974; EPA-660/2-74-048. (3) Hertz, H. S.; Hites, R. Α.; Biemann, K. Anal. Chem. 1971, 43, 681-91. (4) Lias, S. G. /. Res. Nat. Inst. Stand. Techol. 1989, 94, 25. (5) McGuire, J. M. Presented at the 21st International Symposium on Environ mental Analytical Chemistry, Jekyll Is land, GA, May 1991. (6) Thruston, A. D., Jr.; Richardson, S. D.; Collette, T. W.; McGuire, J. M. /. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom., in press. (7) McGuire, J. M.; Collette, T. W.; Thrus ton, A. D., Jr.; Richardson, S. D.; Payne, W. D. Multispectral Identification and Con firmation of Organic Compounds in Waste water Extracts; U.S. Environmental Pro tection Agency, 1990; EPA/600/S4-90/ 002. (8) Covello, V. T. Presented at the 21st In ternational Symposium on Environmen tal Analytical Chemistry, Jekyll Island, GA, May 1991. Suggested reading Effective Risk Communication: The Role and Responsibility of Government and Nongov ernmental Organizations; Covello, V. T.; McCallum D.; Pavlova M, Eds.; Plenum Press: New York, 1989.
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