Fifth anniversary of CH&S marks new goals

Fifth anniversary of CH&S marks new goals everal years ago, I gave a paper at an American Chemical Society national meeting and made the following statement, which I've subsequently seen quoted in several places: "Unlike other chemistry research in most areas, results in chemical health and safety are the inverse of proprietary intellectual property. People share their information so that the maximum number of people can most quickly become more safe." I sincerely believe that, and Chemical Health & Safety (CH&S), the ideal dissemination vehicle, is the logical place to publish research or resource papers. Progress is being made, although perhaps those respondble are too busy with day-to-day details to take the time to write their results. The word af mouth or Internet modes are fast, but often not as complete or desirable. In any case, CH&S continues to be the professional's source for current, relevant, and reliable information about issues involving chemical health and safety. Chemical health and safety presumably is a major concern of all those reading Chemical Health ~ Safety. Of course, the editors and staff responsible for CH&S believe that we are filling a very important need for the chemical health and safety community, which we believe should include all chemists. Thought-provoking columns, news of interest, research and success articles, as well as book reviews, new products, and more, provide a pleasant, easy-reading, yet professional and educational mix. Recognizing that improvement is always possible, and indeed necessary, in our fast-paced society, we always welcome feedback or suggestions to help in our striving toward the ideal range and mix. Each of you, I suspect, has a question or area of concern for "Ask C H & S " Remember that a number of others likely have the same interest. Greater use of this department would benefit everyone. We have been good (or lucky) at anticipating the breaking focal points in chemical health and safety and count on continuing to bring our readers early reliable information about these areas. Kindred spirits can produce all manner of good products. But as chemists know, good reactants need the fight conditions, and often a catalyst, to achieve the maximum yield. Communication is obviously of primary importance to any endeavor and every publication. Sometimes, however, the publication assumes the role of transmitter, and the important feedback of readers to the magazine becomes neglected. True communication requires active participation from all parties. Goals or objectives are necessary if an organization is to measure its success. In fact, one could reason that without a goal, progress will be erratic at best (though "success" might always be proclaimed), and even regression might occur. This June will mark our fifth anniversary of publication, and I want this entire year, not just the May/June issue, to be especially memorable for all. United, we can do that.

S

W. Carl Gottschall Editor

1074-9098/99/$10.00 © 1999 American Chemical Society

Chemical Health & Safety, January/February 1999 3