TURI Staff Publications
These reports and articles were written, researched or edited by staff of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
United Nations Environment Programme Global Chemicals Outlook |
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| This report documents the rapid rise in chemical production, use, and disposal in developing countries; the health and environmental consequences of this rapid growth; the economic implications of health and environmental damage resulting from chemical exposures; and policy options for addressing these challenges at the national and international scale. It focuses on the impacts of chemicals in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Read more... | |
How Developing Nations Can Protect Children From Hazardous Chemical Exposures While Sustaining Economic Growth |
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| Article published in December 2011 in the journal Health Affairs Read more... | |
Higher Hazard Substances Under the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act: Lessons From the First Four Years |
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| New Solutions, v.21 no. 3, 2011. Massey, Rachel I.; Tenney, Heather; Harriman, Elizabeth. Read more... | |
Supporting and growing the clean energy sector in Massachusetts
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| Clony, P., Campbell, M., Rothstein, P., Fields, T., Doyle, K., Strauss, A., Clark, J., … Michel, M. (2011). Supporting & growing the clean energy sector in Massachusetts: clean energy industry economic & workforce development leadership summits. Lowell, MA: Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, New England Clean Energy Council, UMass Lowell, UMass Amherst, UMass Dartmouth, and SkillWorks. Download PDF file (2.17 MB) |
Toxic substances in articles: the need for information |
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| This report explores the benefits that can be gained by improving the provision of information on chemicals in articles. Read more... | |
Best practices in product chemicals management in the retail industry
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| Published by the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3), 2004. Principal author: Torrie, Yve. Contributing authors: Buczek, Mark; Morose, Gregory; Tickner, Joel. This report examines the influences on today’s retailers to encourage their adoption of chemicals management programs, the product chemicals management systems that seven innovative retailers have adopted in response to these influences, and the best practices identified in the development and implementation of these systems. Download PDF file (2.52 MB) |
Evaluation of Lead-free Solders, Halogen-free Laminates, and Nanomaterial Surface Finishes for Assembly of Printed Circuit Boards for High Reliability Applications |
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| Morose, Gregory; Shina, Sammy; et al. 2009. Journal of Surface Mount Technology, v22 no. 4. Read more... | |
Technical Performance Evaluation of the Potential Biobased Floor Strippers
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| Journal of Cleaner Production, v16 no. 1, 2008. Massawe, Ephraim; Geiser, Ken; Ellenbecker, Michael; Marshall, Jason. This paper presents results of identification and technical performance evaluation of some biobased products. They are potential alternatives to the petroleum based floor strippers. Download PDF file (116.02 kB) |
Economics of Conversion to Mercury-Free Products |
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Greg Morose of the Toxics Use Reduction Institute and John Lindberg of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production were commissioned by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Chemicals Branch to investigate the cost of transitioning from the manufacturing of mercury-containing to mercury-free product alternatives. This report provides information from case studies of two firms - Rayovac and American Diagnostic Corporation - involved with transitioning from mercury-containing to mercury-free products in the medical technology industry. The manufacturers have demonstrated that they can provide mercury-free products with equivalent performance to the mercury-containing products for hearing aid batteries, thermometer batteries, and most sphygmomanometer applications. Cost associated with this transition to mercury-free products, as well as return on investment, were calculated for this report.
where calculated for this report. URL: http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/Mercury/UNEP%20Economics%20of%20Conversion%20to%20Mercury-free%20Report%20Final%20102611_finaldraft_wAPP.pdf |
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Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products |
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Article published in Environmental Science and Technology, 2010, by Rachel Massey of TURI, Sally Edwards of the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production and Monica Becker, Monica Becker & Associates Sustainability Consultants. The authors note that in June the United States government recalled 12 million promotional drinking glasses sold at a fast-food restaurant chain because the painted coating contained cadmium, a toxic metal. Since 2007, the government has recalled more than 17 million toys due to high levels of lead. The report says that these and other incidents have raised concern about the problem of toxic substances in toys and other children’s products, many of which are made overseas. The substances include ingredients either suspected or recognized as potentially damaging to children’s health. Although government, industry, and advocacy groups have taken significant actions to solve the problem, including restricting the use of certain substances, that response remains inadequate, the scientists say. URL: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/es1009407 |
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