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Events
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Technology Demonstration:
TUR, Lean and Six Sigma at Ophir Optics
- May 25 in N.Andover
REGISTER NOW
Demonstration of Professional Wet Cleaning Technology
May 19 in North Andover
Greener Materials Research Symposium
- May 23 in Lowell
5th Intn.l Symposium on Nanotechnology, Occupational and Env. Health
- August 9-11 in Boston
REGISTER NOW
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Online Tools
CleanerSolutions Database- new adhesive removal performance data!
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Publications
Hexavalent Chromium Policy Analysis DOWNLOAD Journal of Cleaner Production Special Issue on TURA FREE DOWNLOAD Fact Sheet about the TURA program DOWNLOAD Fact sheet about TURI DOWNLOAD
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Greenlist Bulletin
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| Alternative Plasticizers to be evaluated | |
Wire and Cable Applications
With member companies of the Green Chemistry & Commerce Council (GC3), Dr. Greg Morose of TURI is working to evaluate alternatives to phthalates used as plasticizers in wire and cable applications. Massachusetts companies participated in a survey to help prioritize 100+ alternative chemicals. Ten were selected for further study using the Quick Chemical Assessment Tool (QCAT) developed by Alex Stone of the Washington (state) Department of Ecology. Based on the results of the QCAT, three plasticizers have been selected for full assessment using the Green Screen:
- DOZ (an azelate)
- TEHTM (a trimellitate)
- DINCH
While not conclusive, alternatives assessment tools and methods offer a good place to start your TUR planning and search for safer alternatives. There are several great articles in the special issue of Journal of Cleaner Production describing and using alternatives assessment and substitution tools.
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Breaking News About Hexavalent Chromium
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Do you work on Department of Defense contracts?
The US Department of Defense is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement the requirements for minimizing the use of materials containing hexavalent chromium in items acquired by DoD. This rule codifies a DoD policy for addressing the serious human health and environmental risks related to the use of hexavalent chromium. The Federal Register notice for this rule is available.
The TURA Program is considering adding HexChrome to the Higher Hazard List As part of the discussions and decisions of the TURA Program, TURI has created a short report on human hazards, enviromental risks, as well as the business impacts of regulations, now available as the Hexavalent Chromium Policy Analysis. Also available for viewing are presentation materials on advances in alternatives to HexChrome in metal finishing, a topic presented at the recent Continuing Education Conference.
 Also, Chapter Six of the Five Chemicals Alternative Assessment Study (TURI, 2006) contains use and performance analysis and an alternatives assessment for use of Hexavalent Chromium in three sectors:
- Decorative Chromium Electroplating of Consumer and Automotive
- Hard Chromium Electroplating of Industrial Components
- Passivation of Zinc Plated Parts and Zinc Galvanized Steel
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Nanoparticle Health and Safety
|  International Conference Coming to Boston TURI Director and UMass Lowell Prof. Mike Ellenbecker and his two students Kevin Huang and Kevin Dunn presented their research findings on nanoparticle health and safety at the School of Health & Environment's recent Research Day. UMass Lowell is hosting the 5th International Conference on Nanotechnology - Occupational and Environmental Health in Boston, August 9 - 12. |
| Lean Manufacturing Embeds TUR Planning | |
Demonstration at Ophir Optics an Eye-opener
 | | Ophir Optics offers companies and consultants a behind the scenes look at the results of their lean manufacturing improvements. |
Ophir Optics has utilized lean manufacturing and six sigma tools and methodologies for a variety of projects at their manufacturing facility located in North Andover, Massachusetts. As a result of this work, Ophir has reduced its use of volatile chemicals and generation of hazardous waste, and increased the energy efficiency of its manufacturing operations! Visitors learned many tips and strategies at the first event on May 9. Register Now for the May 25 event.
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| Lead-Free Electronics Consortium Research | |
Reliability TEST Results!
You can learn about this latest phase of consortium research from Greg Morose of TURI, who spoke at the International Microelectronics And Packaging Society (IMAPS) 38th Symposium & Expo on "Failure Analysis Results for Evaluating the Long-Term Reliability of Test Vehicles Assembled with Lead-free Materials", in Boxborough May 3, 2011. Professor S. Shina or the University of Massachusetts Lowell and industry research staff contributed to this research as part of the NE Lead Free Electronics Consortium.
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| Purchasing Message Suggests Green Markets | |
Safer Products Preferences
Massachusetts Executive Order 515 (2009) specifically targets four key procurement areas in which agencies are directed to incorporate environmentally preferable products. They are products that:
§ Offer energy efficiency
§ Contain recycled materials or minimize waste
§ Are manufactured or grown in a sustainable manner, and
§ Represent a reduction in the use of toxic substances.
The Office of Technical Assistance and Technology (OTA) helps businesses and other organizations improve their environmental performance. Also, the TURI Green Cleaning Lab is helping formulators bring performance qualified products to government and institutional markets. Floor strippers, hard surface cleaners, parts, equipment and janitorial cleaning can all be addressed in the Lab. New capabilities include performance of disinfection chemistries and processes. Contact Heidi Wilcox or Jason Marshall.
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TUR Planner Continuing Ed Conference
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85 Attend Another Great Conference
 | | Paul Lukitsch of Millipore, Lucy Servideo of Capaccio Engineers enjoy the energy efficiency session organized by John Raschko of OTA |
TUR Planners attending the recent Lowell conference earned a total of 666 credits to sustain their TURP certification, which is tracked by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
Presentation materials are available on the turi.org website, offering stories and tools for energy and water conservation, reducing use in solid materials to reduce waste, chemical process safety, advances in hexavalent chromium alternatives and Environmental Management Systems. Attenders also learned about TUR in the Pharmaceutical industry from the keynote, Dan Liberman of Novartis and Professor Yoon of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Feedback from attenders was quite positive!
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| What is Hot in Greenlist Bulletin | |
Most Popular Greenlist Bulletin Stories: January-March 2011
"Greenlist Bulletin" is TURI Library's free weekly update -- delivered to your desktop via email. Topics vary widely -- innovative technologies, chemicals policy, pollution prevention, environmental health, toxics alternatives.
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| More Recent Presentations by TURI Staff |
- Liz Harriman presented "How to Choose Alternatives to Halogenated Substances" at the recent "IPC International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment" in Boston, May 12
- Rachel Massey spoke on the "Global Chemicals Outlook Project" at the United Nations in New York City, May 3. TURI is considered a key resource in this effort toward sound chemicals management worldwide.
- Jason Marshall Spoke about the services of the TURI Green Cleaning Lab at the Cleaning Industry Research Institute International (CIRI) Conference on "Green Cleaning and Science" on April 27 in Atlanta.
Speakers are available from TURI if you need support for your events or classes. |
Our offices are in Wannalancit, an office building on the University of Massachusetts Lowell campus. Come visit!
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