Greenlist Bulletin
From the Toxics Use Reduction Institute
at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
February 15, 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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| Report Demonstrates Over $6.6 Billion in Economic Benefits from Pollution Prevention, A Result of Waste Reductions, Resource Conservation, and Cost Savings | Source: National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, February 5, 2013
A Cornerstone of Environmental Sustainability: Pollution Prevention Results from 2007 to 2009 presents available information on the achievements of state and local P2 programs for the calendar years 2007 to 2009. The Report was produced by the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) based upon the results shared by 90 pollution prevention (P2) programs in the United States. The Report shows that there were almost $6.6 billion in economic benefits and more than 7 billion pounds of pollution minimized or eliminated during the three year period. 7 billion pounds of waste is equivalent to the amount of waste generated by 350 thousand households, the approximate size of Columbus, Ohio. This study affirms that pollution prevention results in conservation of valuable resources and significant waste reductions, as well as cost savings that were four times greater than the funds used to support the various P2 programs. Read more... Read full report here. |
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2012 Chemical Data Reporting Results (TSCA Inventory Information)
| Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, February 11, 2013 
CDR constitutes the most comprehensive source of basic screening-level, exposure-related information on chemicals available to EPA. The data allows EPA to construct an in-depth picture of the types, amount, end uses, and possible exposure to chemicals in commerce. The data includes information on the manufacture (including import), industrial processing and use, and consumer and commercial use of certain chemicals currently listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory (TSCA Inventory), which is a list of chemicals that are manufactured (including imported) or processed in the United States. EPA uses the data to inform chemical risk screening, assessment, priority setting, and management activities.
Read more...
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| Interagency Breast Cancer & Environmental Research Coordinating Committee | |
Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, February 12, 2013
On October 8, 2008, Congress passed the Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act. The Act required the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish an Interagency Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Coordinating Committee (IBCERCC) of federal and nonfederal members to examine the current state of breast cancer and the environment research and make recommendations for eliminating any knowledge gaps in this area.
The IBCERCC was charged with:
- reviewing federal research efforts concerning the environmental and genomic factors related to breast cancer;
- identifying scientific advances in breast cancer research and outlining key research questions, methodologies, and knowledge gaps;
- developing a comprehensive strategy for accelerating transdisciplinary, innovative, and collaborative research on breast cancer and the environment across federal agencies and in partnership with nonfederal organizations; and
- determining how to increase public participation in decisions about breast cancer research and the optimal mode of dissemination of information on research progress.
Based on its review of the state of the science, current programs and investments by federal agencies and non-governmental organizations, and relevant communication efforts and policies, the IBCERCC has provided a comprehensive report summarizing its findings and seven recommendations to highlight the need for coordinated, targeted efforts to identify and mitigate the environmental causes of breast cancer.
Read more...
Read full report here.
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| Stronger Laws for Hazardous Chemicals Spur Innovation | Source: The Center for International Environmental Law, February 2013
Washington, D.C. -- A new report released by The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) illustrates how stronger laws to regulate hazardous chemicals spur innovation, with potential benefits for national economies, as well as human health and the environment. Driving Innovation: How stronger laws help bring safer chemicals to market finds that tougher rules to manage chemicals at the global, regional and national levels have sparked the continuous invention of safer chemicals, accelerating the pace at which safer alternatives are developed and pulled into the market.
"Our study finds that stronger laws governing hazardous chemicals can not only drive innovation, but also create a safer marketplace," said Baskut Tuncak, staff attorney at CIEL and author of the report. "Well-designed laws spark the invention of alternatives and further help level the playing field to enable safer chemicals to overcome barriers to entry, such as economies of scale enjoyed by chemicals already on the market and the externalized costs of hazardous chemicals on human health."
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Read full report here. |
| Sewage lagoons remove most -- but not all -- pharmaceuticals | Source: University of Illinois, February 14, 2013
Author: Chelsey B. Coombs
CHAMPAIGN, lll. -- 2012 marked the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which established regulations for the discharge of pollutants to waterways and supported the building of sewage treatment plants. Despite these advances, sewage remains a major source of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and naturally occurring hormones found in the environment.
Many rural communities in the United States use aerated lagoon systems to treat their wastewater. The wastewater is pumped into at least one manmade aerated lagoon, in which oxygen-loving and anaerobic microorganisms remove many of the contaminants. The water is then pumped into a series of other lagoons. Finally, the resulting water, known as the effluent, is discharged directly into a receiving stream. The drugs, chemicals and hormone contaminants such as ibuprofen, caffeine and ethinyl estradiol from urban sewage treatment plants have been studied and monitored widely, but their occurrence in rural lagoon treatment systems is often overlooked. In a new study . . . researchers determined the effectiveness of rural lagoon systems at removing these compounds from wastewater. The research was conducted jointly with the Illinois State Water Survey. The study appears in the journal Science of the Total Environment. Read more... |
| SIN List 2.1 update: new information from REACH registrations extends the SIN List | Source: International Chemical Secretariat, February 14, 2013
The SIN List has today been updated to version 2.1, adding additional chemicals to the list of Substances of Very High Concern identified by ChemSec. The new additions are mainly substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction, and that should be regulated in the EU. Registration dossiers submitted by companies following the requirements of the EU chemicals regulation, REACH, provide new information about the production and use of chemicals in the EU. This information has been used for this technical 2.1 update of the SIN List to identify substances that are fully registered, and thus are used and produced in a way that is subject to REACH regulation.
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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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