The Chemical Class Approach towards Healthier Products and Materials. Classes 1 to 3

Transcription

1 The Chemical Class Approach towards Healthier Products and Materials Classes 1 to 3

2 A Planetary Boundary for Chemical Pollution Chemical pollution is global: Rapidly increasing global production Persistence and long range transport Finite capacity of the earth to absorb toxics Demands a globally coordinated response GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE Diamond et al, 2015, Environment International

3 Audience Survey Question American Chemical Society (ACS) Webinar If a chemical is in your cosmetics, your coat or your couch, who has the authority to make sure it's safe for human health? The FDA The EPA State and local governments The World Health Organization No one 3

4 If a chemical is in your cosmetics, your coat, or your couch, who has the authority to make sure it s safe? --Response from 464 ACS members 40 33% 36% Percent 20 19% 8% 0 GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE 4% EPA FDA WHO State/ Local Gov. No one April 2016 ACS Webinar Feedback, Dr. Arlene Blum

5 PROBLEM U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act (1976) 62,000 previous chemicals grandfathered 20,000 new chemicals 85% have no health data 67% have no data at all Green Chemistry: Cornerstone to a Sustainable California 2008: Cal/EPA GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

6 Regrettable Substitution Br Br O Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Br Decabromodiphenyl ether Concerns: Persistence Bioaccumulation Toxicity Decabromodiphenyl ethane Decabromodiphenyl ethane Concerns: Persistence Bioaccumulation Toxicity A definition of insanity: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

7 PROBLEM Human Toxicological Trial? We are conducting a massive clinical toxicological trial, and our children and our children's children are the experimental subjects. -Herbert Needleman & Philip Landrigan GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

8 A Solution: The Six Classes 1. Highly fluorinated chemicals (PFASs) stain and water repellants 2. Chlorinated antimicrobials triclosan and triclocarban 3. Flame retardants brominated, chlorinated, phosphate 4. Bisphenols and phthalates phthalates, BPA, BPS, etc. 5. Organic solvents benzene, methylene chloride, xylene, etc. 6. Certain metals lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic, etc. GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

9 Is it necessary? Is it worth it? Is there a safer alternative? GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

10 Green Chemistry Green chemistry is the design of chemical products that reduces the use of hazardous substances. Courtesy: Dr. Bob Peoples GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

11 Classes 1 to 3

12 Periodic table of elements Halogens

13 Cellular defense systems do not recognize organohalogens Organohalogens are unnatural to mammalian biochemistry, so they are not recognized by efflux (ABC) transporters They passively diffuse across cell membranes into cells. Cellular bouncers Cellular detoxification Courtesy, David Epel, Stanford University

14 Class 1: Highly Fluorinated Chemicals Carbon-Fluorine bond strength: Leads to oil and water repellency Lasts for geologic time! (C8) Courtesy: Dr. Jennifer Field

15 Highly Fluorinated Chemicals are in:

16 C8 Human Toxicology PFOS and PFOA persist in the body for years Health effects linked to exposure to PFOA: Kidney and testicular cancer Elevated cholesterol Thyroid disease Delayed puberty, decreased fertility (women) and early menopause Reduced immune response in children Courtesy: Dr. Jennifer Field

17 C8 replaced with > 40 forms of C6 Persistent, a family trait In groundwater, wastewater, & seawater Increasing C6 levels in human blood Similar health harm in animal studies of one form Adopted from slide by Dr. Jennifer Field

18 Is C6 safer than C8? DuPont Knowledge Foundation: short chain fluorinated chemicals have a favorable environmental, health and safety profile, rapid bioelimination and are not bioaccumulative they are safe for workers, consumers and the environment DuPont filed 16 reports to the EPA between April 2006 and January 2013 citing similar adverse health effects in animal studies from C6 exposure as found from C8 including cancer of the liver, pancreas, and testicles as well as kidney disease, liver degeneration, and uterine polyps. (Sharon Lerner, The Intercept)

19 The Madrid Statement on Highly Fluorinated Chemicals (PFAS) Documents the scientific consensus: potential for harm roadmap to prevent further harm Marc Signed by 230 scientists from 40 countries 2015: Environmental Health Perspectives

20 In the news beginning May 1, 2015

21 Highly Fluorinated Chemicals November 2015: Scientific Guidance Panel voted unanimously to add entire class of Highly Fluorinated Chemicals (PFASs) to priority list of chemicals.

22 Highly Fluorinated chemicals 2016 Calls: - Policy calls with international scientists - State Working Group on contamination of drinking water Papers from policy call: - Detection of fluorinated compounds in U.S. fast food paper packaging (Laurel A. Schaider, Simona Balan et al) - Detection of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in U.S. drinking water: Insights from early monitoring and implications for risk assessment (Xindi C. Hu, David Andrews et al)

23 Purchasers can avoid fluorinated chemicals Product Category With Without Flooring Carpet face fibers Carpet backing 8 21 Floor finishes and coatings 13 1 GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE Data from pharosproject.net

24 Brands eliminate fluorinated chemicals As of January 2013 As of July 2013 As of August 2014 As of October 2014 As of January 2015 By December 2015 By July 2015 By July 2015 By December 2015 By December 2015 By July 2016 By December 2015 By July 2016 By December % PFAS-free by December 2017

25 Class 2: Antimicrobials Triclosa n Triclocarban Courtesy: Dr. Gary Ginsberg GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

26 Antimicrobials are used in Disinfectants Soap, mouthwash, detergent, shampoo Deodorant/clothing Toothpaste Cosmetics Kitchen supplies, furniture Toys, school supplies, sports equipment Courtesy: Dr. Gary Ginsberg GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

27 Patented FDA Draft Monograph on lack of efficacy and safety First detection in fish A History of Triclosan in the U.S. Several dozen antimicrobials; FDA removes them from drug category Top ten water contaminant 40 th anniversary of FDA Draft Monograph still no ruling 2,000 antimicrobial products. Endocrine disruptor; Detectable in 97% of breast milk samples Env Sci Tech, 2014, 48,

28 Purchasers Action Toolkit Starting with antimicrobials Collection of case studies, strategies, and metrics to measure success Sample topics: making the case for internal adoption understanding product categories navigating product information including specification language GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

29 Class 3: Flame Retardants used to meet Flammability Standards since 1970s Electronics - circuit boards - plastic enclosures Foam Building insulation Polyurethane foam in furniture baby products, etc

30 Brominated Tris Flame Retardant Tris (2,3-dibromopropyl) phosphate In children s sleepwear 1975 to 1977 Up to 10% of the weight of fabric In children s urine Mutagen and possible carcinogen Green Science Policy Institute

31 Science, January 7, 1977 Green Science Policy Institute

32 CPSC Bans TRIS-Treated Children's Garments April 7, 1977 Chlorinated Tris (TDCPP) replaced Brominated Tris removed from children s PJ s in 1977 used in baby products, furniture until 2012 Green Science Policy Institute

33 Technical Bulletin 117 Required furniture foam to withstand a small open flame for 12 seconds No significant fire safety benefit (fires start in exterior fabric not filling) GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE GreenSciencePolicy.org

34 PentaBDE Flame Retardant Used from 1975 to 2004 to meet TB % of use in US and Canada in 2003

35 Higher pentabde Human Health associated with lower birth weight impaired attention poorer coordination lowered IQ longer time to get pregnant altered thyroid hormones GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE GreenSciencePolicy.org Eskenazi et al, 2010, 2011, 2012

36 GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE GreenSciencePolicy.org From Products to People

37 TB117 Fire Safety Benefit? TB117 foam Non - TB117 foam ~ No significant, consistent difference GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE Babrauskas et al. 2011; Talley 1995; Mehta (CPSC) 2012

38 San Antonio Statement on Brominated and Chlorinated Flame Retardants Signed by over 200 scientist's from 30 countries Documents health and environmental harm and lack of proven fire safety benefit 2010: Environmental Health Perspectives

39 Top Science Paper of 2011

40 Flame retardants found in 102 U.S. couches tested before and after the 2005 phase out of PentaBDE. GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE Stapleton, et al, ES&T 2012

41 Increased fire safety without flame retardants Assembly Bill 706, Senate Bill 772, Senate Bill 1291, Senate Bill147 GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE GreenSciencePolicy.org

42 Paid for by Californians for Fire Safety: Albemarle Chemtura Israel Chemicals LTD (ICL) GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE GreenSciencePolicy.org

43 Why? Albemarle's profits up 377% from an increase in brominated flame retardant sales Chemical and Engineering News February 1, 2010 Chemtura Corporation will increase prices in all regions on bromine-based products by up to 25 percent to secure global supply, product stewardship and continued advocacy efforts Mar 29, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE GreenSciencePolicy.org

44 Pulitzer Prize Finalist Goldsmith Prize Investigative Reporting Environmental Journalists Society Environmental Reporting Gerald Loeb Award Business and Financial Journalism National Press Club Consumer Award 44

45 June 18, 2012 Governor Brown Directs State Agencies to Revise Flammability Standards We must find better ways to meet fire safety standards by reducing and eliminating - wherever possible - dangerous chemicals. GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE INSTITUTE Press release, CA Office of Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr.

46 California Flammability Standard TB Mandatory January 1, 2015 Flame retardants not needed, but can still be used Product Labels Required GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

47 CPSC Flame Retardant Petition To protect consumers, petition asks the CPSC to ban four categories of products containing non-polymeric halogenated flame retardants in additive form: children s products home furniture mattresses & mattress pads electronics casings Large potential for harm and no fire safety benefit from use of the flame retardants in these products. Philip Landrigan, MD

48 FOAM PLASTIC INSULATION CAN IMPROVE BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY CATHEDRAL CEILING ATTIC WALL CAVITY UNDER FLOOR FOUNDATION BASEMENT WALL GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE UNDER SLAB BUT CONTAINS ORGANOHALOGEN FLAME RETARDANTS TO MEET CODES

49 CHALLENGES TO ACHIEVEING SAFER INSULATION Lack of industry support Overlap with chemical industry Liability concerns No opportunity for profit Lack of data to rebut opposition claims Lack of code community interest in health & ecological issues GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

50 Candle Resistant TVs International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) electronics standards prevent internal ignition The Candle Standard (TC 108) External ignition from candles Met by adding FRs to TV casings Not applicable to modern TVs No valid fire safety rationale Health and environmental harm GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

51 Electronic Housings Candle Ignition Requirements International Electrotechnical Commission 2002 IEC candle standard process initiated 2008 Two IEC, one EU electronics standard prevented 2008 One U.S. and one Canadian standard prevented 2008 EU Candle standard for TVs passed 2012 IEC candle standards for TVs prevented 2013 EU candle standards for TVs rolled back 2014 EU Common modification prevented 2015 EU, IEC candle standard prevented 2015 Four new EU, IEC candle standards prevented in October

52 97 ppm to 3 ppm

53 Responsible Disposal of Foam & Plastic Mixed with Flame Retardants April 12, 13, 2015 Berkeley Meeting: 40+ participants from industry, academia, NGOs & government Pros and cons of waste management technologies Outcomes: Proposed peer-reviewed articles Proposals for partnerships between industry & academia NSF report with roadmap toward solutions

54 Material Buyers Club Require transparency from manufacturers Utilize collective purchasing power to create a demand for healthy products and materials GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE

55 The Six Classes Challenge Can the use of the Six Classes in consumer products be reduced by 50% in five years? GREEN SCIENCE POLICY INSTITUTE