Greenlist Bulletin
From the Toxics Use Reduction Institute
at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
January 25, 2013
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This is the weekly bulletin of the TURI Library at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Greenlist Bulletin provide s previews of recent publications and websites relevant to reducing the use of toxic chemicals by industries, businesses, communities, individuals and government. You are welcome to send a message to mary@turi.org if you would like more information on any of the articles listed here, or if this email is not displaying properly.
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| Late lessons from early warnings: Science, precaution, innovation |
The 2013 "Late Lessons From Early Warnings" report is the second of its type produced by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in collaboration with a broad range of external authors and peer reviewers. The case studies across both volumes of "Late Lessons from Early Warnings" cover a diverse range of chemical and technological innovations, and highlight a number of systemic problems. The "Late Lessons Project" illustrates how damaging and costly the misuse or neglect of the precautionary principle can be, using case studies and a synthesis of the lessons to be learned and applied to maximising innovations whilst minimising harms.
Read more...TURI's Note: Panel 4.2 on pg. 119, "Wet-cleaning technology eliminates PCE use in dry cleaning," was authored by TURI staff member, Joy Onasch. |
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| BPA substitute could spell trouble: Experiments show bisphenol S also disrupts hormone activity |
A few years ago, manufacturers of water bottles, food containers and baby products had a big problem. A key ingredient of the plastics they used to make their merchandise, an organic compound called bisphenol A, had been linked by scientists to diabetes, asthma and cancer and altered prostate and neurological development. The Food and Drug Administration and state legislatures were considering action to restrict BPA's use, and the public was pressuring retailers to remove BPA-containing items from their shelves.
The industry responded by creating "BPA-free" products, which were made from plastic containing a compound called bisphenol S. In addition to having similar names, BPA and BPS share a similar structure and versatility: BPS is now known to be used in everything from currency to thermal receipt paper, and widespread human exposure to BPS was confirmed in a 2012 analysis of urine samples taken in the United States, Japan, China and five other Asian countries.
According to a study by University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston researchers, though, BPS also resembles BPA in a more problematic way. Like BPA, the study found, BPS disrupts cellular responses to the hormone estrogen, changing patterns of cell growth and death and hormone release. Also like BPA, it does so at extremely low levels of exposure.
TURI's Note: The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has announced an intent to list BPA on the prop 65 list based on "the authoritative bodies mechanism," namely findings from the National Toxicology Program. Read more about the EPA Design for the Environment Thermal Paper Partnership project. The July 2012 draft hazard evaluation provides a comprehensive toxicological review for bisphenol A as well as each of the major alternatives (including bisphenol S). |
| America's Children and the Environment, Third Edition (ACE3) | Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, January 25, 2013
America's Children and the Environment is an EPA report that presents key information on environmental stressors that can affect children's health. In January 2013, EPA released an updated third edition of this report (ACE3) that shows the status and trends of: - Environments and Contaminants (contaminants in air, water, food, and soil and other environmental conditions),
- Biomonitoring (chemicals measured in the bodies of mothers and children), and
- Health (childhood diseases and health outcomes).
Read more...
Access report here.
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| EPA's 2011 Toxics Release Inventory Shows Air Pollutants Continue to Decline |
PHILADELPHIA -- Total toxic air releases in 2011 declined 8 percent from 2010, mostly because of decreases in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, even while total releases of toxic chemicals increased for the second year in a row, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report published today. In EPA's mid-Atlantic Region -- Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia -- TRI data indicate a decrease of 32.5 million pounds or 13.8 % of chemical releases as compared to 2010. |
Japanese research team produces Euglena-based bioplastic
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Author: Erin Voegele
Japanese researchers have developed a bioplastic material derived from the microorganism Euglena and compounds obtained from cashew nut shells. According to information released by Japan-based Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program (ALCA), the resulting plastic contains 70 percent plant-derived components. The study was conducted as part of the development of low carbon technologies under the Japan Science and Technology Agency. . . .
According to a statement released by the ALCA, the Euglena used by the research team produces paramylum, a polysaccharide that accumulates in the cell. The polysaccharide, a sugar, reacts with the fatty compounds derived from cashew nut shells to produce a biobased plastic material that is similar to petroleum-based plastic in terms of plasticity and heat resistance.
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| Global lead paint elimination by 2020: A test of the effectiveness of the strategic approach to international chemicals management |
This report on global lead paint elimination was prepared by the global non-governmental organization (NGO) network, IPEN, for distribution at the third meeting of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM3) taking place in Nairobi, Kenya, September 17-21, 2012. It makes the case that lead paints are still widely manufactured, sold and used in developing countries and countries with economies in transition for applications likely to contribute to childhood lead exposure, and that the elimination of such paints should be considered a global priority objective for the Sound Management of Chemicals. . . .
This report will provide background information that may be of use to those who wish to initiate lead paint elimination programs, projects, or campaigns in their own countries. It will review progress that has been made since 2009. It will propose strategies to achieve global elimination by 2020 of leaded household paints and other lead paints used for the applications most likely to contribute to childhood lead exposure. It will make the case that success or failure to achieve global lead paint elimination by 2020 should be one of the criteria used in evaluating the effectiveness of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM).
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| EPA Withdraws New Cadmium Rule |
Under pressure from producers, the U.S. government has reversed a brand-new rule that would have increased safety disclosure requirements for products containing cadmium, used in some protective coatings, fillers and abrasive blast media.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published the final rule Dec. 3 under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(d). The measure, which was to take effect Jan. 2, required reporting of unpublished cadmium-related health and safety studies by manufacturers and importers.
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| Victoria's Secret, Benetton Commit to 'Detox Fashion' |
Victoria's Secret parent company Limited Brands and the Benetton Group have agreed to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from their supply chains and products by 2020 after pressure from Greenpeace to sign on to its Detox campaign.
Greenpeace says today's commitment from Limited Brands includes a process to stop using phthalates and perfluorinated chemicals in its clothing before the 2020 deadline. The company will also publish pollution data this year from 80 percent of its supply chain.
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| Please send a message to mary@turi.org if you would like more information on any of these resources. Also, please tell us what topics you are particularly interested in monitoring, and who else should see Greenlist. An online search of the TURI Library catalog can be done at http://library.turi.org for greater topic coverage.
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Greenlist Bulletin is compiled by:
Mary Butow
Research and Reference Specialist
Toxics Use Reduction Institute
University of Massachusetts Lowell
600 Suffolk St., Wannalancit Mills
Lowell MA 01854
978-934-4365
978-934-3050 (fax)
mary@turi.org
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