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Pollution Prevention 101: Green Chemistry, Solvent Substitution, and Alternatives and Risk Assessment Tools

Resources for pollution prevention (P2) technical assistance providers. Geared particularly toward those new to the P2 field.

What Is green chemistry?

Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal. Green chemistry is also known as sustainable chemistry. Learn more about the twelve principles of green chemistry on the EPA web site.

This page includes links to:

Solvent substitution

EPA Safer Choice Program

EPA's Safer Choice program (formerly Design for Environment (DfE)) works in partnership with industry, environmental groups, and academia to reduce risk to people and the environment by finding ways to prevent pollution.

Overview and training

Risk assessment tools

EPA uses risk assessment to characterize the nature and magnitude of health risks to humans (e.g., residents, workers, recreational visitors) and ecological receptors (e.g., birds, fish, wildlife) from chemical contaminants and other stressors, that may be present in the environment.

The tools below are designed to help users evaluate the risks of specific chemicals.