Historical perspective, throughout

Although the author participated in all three periods, this historical perspective covers only the first two periods. The perspective on the important developments in the third period as described above can be found throughout the book (especially in Chapters 6 and 7). 

The fine-chemical industry, too, is affected by the global shift of mobile manufacturing and service activities from high-cost to low-cost regions. In a historical perspective, the increasing importance of Asia does not come as a surprise. The Eastern part of the world, especially China and India (Chindia), has held superpower status throughout most of the history of humankind. The twentieth century was an exception. Actually Asia s share of the world GDP developed as follows over the last 135 years 1870, 38% 1913, 25% 1950, 19% 1973, 25%, 2001, 37% (of which China, 12% India, 5%). 

Historical Perspective on the Magnitude of Iodine Deficiency Throughout the World... 

Environmental organic chemistry is a rapidly expanding subject and one that allows many perspectives. Environmental chemistry historically grew out of analytical chemistry and the ability of analytical chemists to detect very low concentrations of pollutants, especially chlorinated organic compounds, in complex matrices such as soils, atmospheric particles, and animal tissues. The discovery that such pollutants are transported throughout the world, and that some are highly persistent in the environment, led to increasing interest in the fates of such compounds in nature. 

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