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Natural chemistry of chlorine in the environment

08/2008

Since the first edition of The Natural Chemistry of Chlorine in the Environment (1995) over 4,000 naturally-occurring organohalogens have been identified. It is now an established fact that natural organohalogens are a normal part of the chlorine cycle in the environment.

The importance of reconciling the aspirations of a growing world population with the minimisation of its impact on the environment, has led to an increasing acceptance - embodied in international and regional agreements between governments - that future development must be more in harmony with the environment.

Such sustainable development requires a better understanding of the natural world, the oceans, rivers and lakes, the atmosphere, soils and sediments, flora and fauna, so as to put into context the changes brought about by man's activity.

This is particularly true when considering the impact of man-made chemicals on the environment. While there has been much research done on man-made organic compounds of chlorine, much less is known of the organochlorine compounds that arise naturally in the environment.

However, remarkable progress has been made over the last 15 years to reveal, and to begin to understand, the abundance, ubiquity, diversity and functions of naturally-produced organochlorine compounds.

Because of the importance of this work, the chlorine industry invited a panel of 12 leading scientists from seven countries to review significant new developments in their particular areas of expertise. New chapters are included on biological mechanisms of chlorination, the role of hypochlorous acid in the body's defence mechanisms and on chlorinated aromatics from fungi.

Those wishing to review more fully the information and conclusions may wish to obtain the original scientific papers on which they are based. Both the papers and the comprehensive bibliographies provided by the authors may be obtained from the Chlorine Chemistry Council.