Chemistry and Health: A Multidimensional Approach
This review explores both the positive and negative impacts of chemistry on society, focusing on the intersection between pharmaceutical, natural, and synthetic chemicals. On the one hand, drugs developed through medicinal chemistry have saved lives, improved people’s quality of life, and increased longevity. However, they also pose risks, including fatalities and environmental damage. Pharmaceutical chemistry has revolutionized medical practice by enabling the treatment and cure of fatal or debilitating diseases, significantly contributing to the rise in global life expectancy through the research and development of new bioactive substances. This article also highlights the harmful effects of toxic synthetic substances, which negatively impact human health and the environment, affecting plants, animals, air, water, soil, and food.
Authors
- Iva S. de Jesus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0254-3589)
- Rafael P. R. F. de Oliveira
- Vı́tor F. Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2166-766X)
- Alcione Silva de Carvalho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5230-4511)
- Débora Omena Futuro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9152-4330)
- Acácio S. de Souza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9008-058X)
- Patrícia Garcia Ferreira (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0640-5079)
Institutions
- Universidade Federal Fluminense (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Sustainable Chemistry
- Published
- 2025-01-09
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/suschem6010002
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.86
Funders
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro