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 Environmental
Chemistry
Because our environment is so
complex, environmental chemists always underscore the interdisciplinary
nature of their field. Environmental chemists must be able to understand
and use the terminology of a range of other disciplines, including
biology, geology, ecology, sedimentology, mineralogy, genetics, soil and
water chemistry, math, and engineering. They may be involved in analytical
testing, new product development in the lab, fieldwork with users of
chemicals, and safety and regulatory issues. Many opportunities exist to
move into different areas of expertise, often outside the lab. Many
chemists return to school to study public policy, law, or
business -- applying their chemistry know-how in new ways. For example,
knowledge of chemical processes is often vital for an individual who works
in a corporation's regulatory affairs department and must ensure
compliance with government regulations. Environmental management is
becoming a popular career track. Students who hold degrees in
environmental sciences are finding jobs throughout the chemical industry,
often working alongside geologists, biologists, and chemists.
Food
and Flavor Chemistry
Food chemistry focuses on the
chemistry of foods, their deterioration, and the principles underlying the
improvement of foods for consumers. It applies chemistry to developing,
processing, packaging, preserving, storing, and distributing foods and
beverages to obtain safe, economical, and aesthetically pleasing food
supplies. Few people recognize the science behind the food they consume.
While food science involves chemistry, biology, physics, biochemistry,
microbiology, nutrition, and engineering, the major portion of a food
science curriculum is chemistry. Food chemists develop and improve foods
and beverages; analyze methods of heat processing, canning, freezing, and
packaging; and study the effects of processing on the appearance, taste,
aroma, freshness, and vitamin and mineral content of food. These chemists
also test samples to make sure foods and beverages meet food laws and
labeling requirements and experiment with new foods, additives, and
preservatives. Food chemistry encompasses everything from agricultural raw
materials to consumer end-use products.
Forensic
Chemistry
A forensic chemist is a
professional chemist who analyzes evidence that is brought in from crime
scenes and reaches a conclusion based on tests run on that piece of
evidence. A forensic chemist's job is to identify and characterize the
evidence as part of the larger process of solving a crime. Forensic
chemists rarely conduct any investigative work; they handle the evidence
collected from the crime scene. Evidence may include hair samples, paint
chips, glass fragments, or blood stains. Understanding the evidence
requires tools from many disciplines, including chemistry, biology,
materials science, and genetics. The prevalence of DNA analysis is making
knowledge of genetics increasingly important in this field.
Geochemistry
A wealth of information is
buried in the liquids, gases, and mineral deposits of rock. Geochemists
must understand this information and use it to make decisions about a
range of industrial and scientific research applications. Understanding
the chemical composition of rocks tells oil companies where to drill for
oil, enables scientists to put together broad-based theories about the way
the earth is changing, helps environmental management companies decide how
to dispose of toxic or hazardous substances, and steers mining companies
toward using natural resources with a minimum environmental impact.
The geochemist collects and analyzes samples from
abandoned mine land piles and performs leach studies to determine the
geology or makeup of the rock and how the elements in the rock affect
water. The scientist also tests waters that have come into contact with
minerals in these waste piles to determine their acidity and metal
content.
Hazardous
Waste Management
Chemists in this field enjoy a
wide range of careers. They are an integral part of teams of scientists
responsible for identifying the presence of chemical pollutants in the
air, water, and soil. Chemists also help design techniques that reduce
pollution and remediate (clean up) problems caused by hazardous waste.
Opportunities also include positions as chemical engineers and
environmental engineers focused on waste management. Hazardous waste
management is a fairly new field that dates back to the 1970s. As it
evolved, many companies realized they would need to use rigorous
scientific investigation to solve their environmental problems. As various
government agencies began to issue and enforce waste management
regulations, these organizations sought chemists who could provide the
scientific knowledge necessary to comply with the law. Opportunities for
chemists have been growing ever since. Chemists in hazardous waste
management work for a variety of organizations including academia,
government, and chemical companies. There are also companies specifically
formed to provide hazardous waste management services, often in a focused
area. For example, zero-discharge hazardous waste companies take in
sludges -- mainly from industrial manufacturing processes -- which they
clean or convert into new products, leaving nothing that must be sent to a
landfill.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by
the American Chemical Society and the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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