Joseph E. Sabol, ACS Fellow

Newsletter

Please contact us if your molecules are misbehaving and you desire chemical information on metals and oxides, semiconductors, polymers, natural products, and more!

Details below on 1) indoor air quality, 2) methane, 3) carbon dioxide, 4) misleading information, and 5) SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Resources.

1) Indoor Air Quality

Ensure the ventilation on trains and busses is operating. We cannot have > 1,000 ppm CO2 except for brief periods. Increase air exchange and use MERV 13 filters.

2) Methane

The current global market value of methane is $90 billion. Methane is a useful fuel and chemical feedstock, but it is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, accounting for about 30% of the global warming since the industrial revolution.

3) Carbon Dioxide

Globally, approximately 50 billion tonnes (50 Gt) of greenhouse gases, as measured in carbon dioxide equivalents, are emitted directly into the atmosphere each year. Energy use (electricity, heat and transport) accounts for 73.2%, direct industrial processes 5.2%, waste 3.2%, and agriculture, forestry and land use 18.4%.

4) Coping with Misleading Information

Information flows to us via many channels. Misleading information is more than an inconvenience, it can create chaos and delay or prevent decisions in public health, environmental action, and the market. Scientific literature enjoys longstanding guardrails to publish peer-reviewed reports and issue retractions when warranted. The popular press and social media proffer in real time and mis- and dis-information can spread like wildfire; if unchallenged, societal polarization can increase and confidence in public institutions can decrease. We need to help society understand complex social and technical issues.

5) SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19

The coronavirus is airborne, an aerosol. Filters, masks, and vaccines help stop spreading.

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