Get to Know Us
During recent decades, the 3000 members of the Division of Environmental Chemistry have made great advances in understanding the fundamental science of global environmental systems, in developing solutions to diverse environmental concerns, and in informing the public of the need for change in multidisciplinary, environmental thinking. It is easy to forget that similar advances were made also in the beginning of the Division in 1913. Click here to learn more about our history
Our Focus Areas
Environmental chemistry is the study of chemical processes occurring in various media, including air, water, soil, and plant and animal tissues. This discipline encompasses a broad range of chemistry and related sciences, including:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Transport and Distribution of Chemicals in the Environment
- Chemical and Biochemical Transformations
- Kinetics
- Geochemistry
- Sustainable Materials
- Green Chemistry
- Sustainable Energy
- Applied catalysis
- Epidemiology
- Toxicology
- Engineering
- Hazardous Waste Treatment and Minimization
- Environmental Legislation and Regulation
Through the integration of these fields, environmental chemistry plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing the complex interactions between chemicals and the environment.
Values and Impact of ACS ENVR
Core Values
Passion for chemistry, Focus on members, Professionalism, Safety, Ethics, DEIR (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect)
Our Vision
Inspiring sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
Our Mission
To engage and empower the environmental community to advance research, innovation, education, and public awareness.
Our History
“Prior to 1913, chemists evaluating water supplies, sewage disposal, and related subjects were presenting papers within several sections of the American Chemical Society and in the general session of the American Water Works Association. Chemists of neither group were satisfied, and the same was true of superintendents and engineers, and papers of interest to them were scattered among the more numerous papers on general chemical and bacteriological subjects at national meetings.”
Throughout its first century, ENVR took on the environmental challenges of the day. Focal areas of the past that are just as important today included development of sophisticated, new analytical techniques for identifying the presence of pollutants in the environment, assessing the potential adverse effects of environmental contaminants; understanding chemical transport and transformation in water, soil, and air; promoting the prevention of environmental pollution; and inspiring solutions to the restoration of environmental quality. This science-based focus and legacy has encouraged and supported the development of both cost-effective treatment technologies and replacements for chemicals of concern. More recently, the holistic integration of all these facets is influencing green and sustainable chemistry advances.
Many groundbreaking technical advancements have been encouraged or recognized by prestigious publications, programs, and awards sponsored by the Division of Environmental Chemistry. As in the beginning of the Division, the multidisciplinary nature of environmental progress led to dispersal of knowledge over many journals. ENVR was active in the launching of the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T) in 1967. The relationship between ENVR and ES&T has strengthened over the years and currently the ACS Award for Creative Advances in Environmental Science and Engineering is cosponsored by ENVR and ES&T. Other early career awards, including the Ellen Gonter award for outstanding research papers and the Merit award for first time presenters within ENVR sessions, the American Water Works Association Larson Aquatic Research Support Grants, and the Graduate Student Exchange Program with SETAC honor excellent students and early career professionals. The more recent Kenneth G. Hancock Memorial Undergraduate Fellowship represents an important collaboration between the Division, the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), and the ACS Green Chemistry Institute.
As the Division continues another century of service to its membership, it continues to recognize the complex nature of environmental problems and strives to be the premiere global professional organization providing a dynamic, interactive, and integrated community for those applying chemistry to understanding and solving environmental and sustainability issues.