Smart materials selection and product specification hinges on an understanding of basic material chemistry. Only a tiny fraction of the tens of thousands of chemical compounds in commercial use today have been evaluated for human health effects. Even fewer have been studied for environmental impact, and virtually none have been studied in combination. This session will cover the basics of human and environmental toxicology, the manufacturing process, and the quickly growing arena of green chemistry, with the aim of enhancing a green building professional's knowledge base to enable wise decision making when it comes to materials selection and specification.

This session will be available in 2009.