This special issue of Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry includes selected scientific presentations of the 4th International Symposium “Green Chemistry for Environment, Health and Development”, which was held on Kos, Greece, between 24 and 26 September 2014. The conference was organized jointly by the Department of Planning and Regional Development of University of Thessaly, the German Research Centre for Environmental Health and the International Society for Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (SECOTOX). The overall goal of the conference is to encourage the exchange of ideas and knowledge between diverse groups of the scientific community concerned by current issues in green chemistry with a focus on environmental effects, on safeguarding of health and on social and economic development. Through this special issue we aspire to facilitate the interactions and the collaboration between scientists, engineers, researchers and policy-makers dealing with these critical topics.
Some of these ideas on sustainable development were substantiated in the cost–benefit analysis of the circular management scheme of home composting (Abeliotis, Lasaridi, and Chroni 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1074235), the critical review of aquatic plants (Lemnaceae) for pollution monitoring (Ziegler, Sree, and Appenroth 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1094701) as well as in the evaluation of a crab (L. depurator) for similar monitoring reasons in marine settings (Tsangaris et al,. 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1095919). Synthetic-based approaches, always within the context of reducing chemical threats to humans and the environment, were also present, among which the manufacturing of controlled-release fertilizers (Lubkowski et al. 2016, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1130225) and the green synthesis of 4(3H)-quinazolinones (Wei et al. 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1034127). Finally, the safeguarding of commodities such as herbal extracts (Karasali and Pavlidis 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1091892) or alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (Ioannidou, Samouris, and Achilias 2015, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02772248.2015.1115505) against common environmental pollutants were also showcased.
We would like to express our gratitude to all participants of the conference and also to institutions that supported the event. In particular, we would like to thank authors for their valuable contributions to this special issue of Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry. Furthermore, we would like to acknowledge the invaluable help of the publishing house of Taylor and Francis, of the editor-in-chief, Professor Hartmut Frank and of the editorial assistant Ms Katrin Marx to reach a comprehensive compilation of the manuscripts.