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Greenlist(tm) Bulletin 09/23/2005

This is the weekly bulletin of the TURI Library, reporting a selection of recently published titles we have acquired. Our pledge is to keep the bulletin relevant to your work and brief -- no more than 10 titles. You are welcome to send a message to jan@turi.org if you would like more information on any of the articles listed here.

Titles here, abstracts below them:

Fitting together the building blocks for sustainability: a revised model for integrating ecological, social, and financial factors into business decision-making. October 2005
'Greener' Stain-resistant Coatings Developed. 2005
Common Pesticide May Reduce Fertility in Women. 2005
Breakthrough In Micro-device Fabrication Combines Biology And Synthetic Chemistry
Environmental and Occupational Causes of Cancer: A Review of Recent Scientific Literature. September 2005
Long Natural Cellulosic Fibers from Cornhusks: Structure and Properties. July 2005
Environmental Health Needs & Habitability Assessment: Hurricane Katrina Response. September 2005
Recovering Zinc via the Sun's Energy. August 2005
State Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Requiring Warnings on Tattoo Ink Products Sold by Largest Ink Sellers in US. September 2005
Toshiba launches world’s first RoHS compliant PC. September 2005

1. Fitting together the building blocks for sustainability: a revised model for integrating ecological, social, and financial factors into business decision-making

AUTHOR Waage, Sissel A.; Geiser, Ken; Irwin, Frances; Weissman, Arthur B.; Bertolucci, Michael D.; Fisk, Pliny; Basile, George; Cowan, Stuart; Cauley, Hank; McPherson, Alexandra

DATE 2005

SOURCE Journal of Cleaner Production, v13 n12, October 2005, pp1145-1163

ABSTRACT Companies committed to integrating sustainability concerns into product decisions are confronted with the daunting task of assessing hundreds, or thousands, of materials and goods. Further complicating efforts have been the rapid growth of environmental and social assessment principles, strategies, actions, and tools. The lack of clarity on how existing approaches are complementary or distinct has resulted in ambiguities about pathways forward for companies. This current state of the field highlights the need to draw out interconnections between the wide range of current work on integrating environmental and social issues into material, product, and other business decisions. This article, developed through collaboration among several environmental, social, and sustainability-oriented researchers and practitioners, addresses this need through building upon pre-existing work [J. Cleaner Prod. 10(3) (2002) 197; J. Cleaner Prod. 8(3) (2000) 243]. It proposes adaptations on a framework for organizing the assessment field, including development of exemplary sustainable product characteristics and their inclusion in a ‘strategic sustainable development’ decision-making model and process [J. Cleaner Prod. 10(3) (2002) 197]. The article also argues for an expansion of analytical approaches within this previously developed framework in order to highlight social aspects of sustainability and landscape-level issues. Finally, the article puts these elements together to describe a pathway forward for companies. In the conclusion, areas for future research are highlighted.

2. 'Greener' Stain-resistant Coatings Developed

DATE 2005

SOURCE American Chemical Society

ABSTRACT When it comes to fighting stains, "greener" is better. Chemists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill say they have developed an alternative material for making stain-resistant coatings that does not lead to the contamination of the environment with PFOA, a pervasive chemical that has been termed a "likely carcinogen" by an EPA advisory board. PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is used directly in the manufacture of the coatings used in nonstick cookware and is also produced by the gradual breakdown in the environment of stain-resistant coatings on clothing and paper goods. Both materials, which have similar properties, are manufactured under a variety of brand names. A growing number of researchers believe that fabric-based, stain-resistant coatings, which are ubiquitous, may be the largest environmental source of the controversial chemical. The new materials use a novel type of short-chain fluorocarbon that does not degrade into PFOA and is less likely to cause health effects, the UNC scientists say. The greener compounds are primarily intended to replace conventional stain-resistant coatings that are now used in clothing and packaging that eventually degrade into PFOA, they say. The compounds are not designed to replace the coatings used in nonstick cookware that are manufactured using PFOA, the researchers point out.

3. Common Pesticide May Reduce Fertility in Women

DATE 2005

SOURCE Yale University Office of Public Affairs

ABSTRACT Methoxychlor (MXC), a common insect pesticide used on food crops, may interfere with proper development and function of the reproductive tract, leading to reduced fertility in women, researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine write in the August issue of Endocrinology. The researchers found that MXC, which was manufactured as a safer replacement for the now-banned DDT, alters the estrogen-regulated gene Hoxa10 in the reproductive tract and reduces the ability of the uterus to support embryo implantation. The researchers used mice and then human cell lines to confirm their findings.

4. Breakthrough In Micro-device Fabrication Combines Biology And Synthetic Chemistry

DATE 2005

SOURCE ScienceDaily.com

ABSTRACT Nanostructured micro-devices may be mass produced at a lower cost, and with a wider variety of shapes and compositions than ever before, for dramatic improvements in device performance by utilizing very small biologically produced structures. These entirely new biologically-enabled approaches are detailed in the current issue of the International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, published on behalf of The American Ceramic Society. This study's newly invented approaches for the low-cost mass production of micro-devices could yield unprecedented breakthroughs in genetically engineered microdevices (GEMs) for biomedical, computing, environmental cleanup, defense and numerous other applications. Conventional microfabrication processes, similar to methods used to make computer microchips, are expensive (i.e., capital equipment intensive) and not well-suited for directly producing large numbers of complex, three-dimensional, nanostructured devices with a wide variety of chemistries and properties. Nature, on the other hand, provides spectacular examples of micro-organisms that synthesize microscopic nanostructured shells with well-controlled and highly-reproducible 3-D shapes and features currently unattainable by manmade processes. However, the naturally occurring diatom microshells do not have the specific properties needed for device applications, such as electrical conductivity, biocompatibility, thermal stability, and chemical compatibility.

5. Environmental and Occupational Causes of Cancer: A Review of Recent Scientific Literature

AUTHOR Clapp, Richard W.; Howe, Genevieve K.; Jacobs, Molly M.

DATE 2005

SOURCE Lowell Center for Sustainable Production

ABSTRACT Nearly one in two men and more than one in three women in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in his or her lifetime. Cancer is now the leading cause of death for individuals under age 85. Even though tobacco remains the single most significant preventable cause of cancer, it has been linked neither to the majority of cancers nor to many of the cancers that have increased rapidly in recent decades including melanoma, lymphomas, testicular, brain, and bone marrow cancers. This paper summarizes recent scientific evidence of environmental and occupational links to nearly 30 types of cancer. It includes a critique of the 25 year-old analysis by Doll and Peto and subsequent analyses that attribute an extremely small fraction of cancer deaths to involuntary environmental and occupational exposures. The paper presents the state of the evidence on causal associations between environmental and occupational exposures and specific cancer types. The discussion of each cancer type is introduced by highlights of trends in incidence and mortality rates. Lastly, the paper considers additional indications that involuntary exposures are linked to cancers, such as patterns observed in different geographic areas and among different populations, including patterns of cancer in children.

6. Long Natural Cellulosic Fibers from Cornhusks: Structure and Properties

AUTHOR Reddy, Narendra; Yang, Yiqi

DATE 2005

SOURCE AATCC Review, v5 n7, July 2005, pp24-27

ABSTRACT Novel, natural long cellulose fibers have been obtained from cornhusks. A unique alkali and enzyme treatment was developed to produce the fibers. The results show that the physical and morphological structures of corn fibers are similar to the multicellular natural cellulose fibers, whereas the tensile properties are similar to those of wool.

7. Environmental Health Needs & Habitability Assessment: Hurricane Katrina Response

DATE 2005

SOURCE Centers for Disease Control & United States Environmental Protection Agency Joint Taskforce

ABSTRACT This report provides an initial assessment of the overarching environmental health and infrastructure issues faced by New Orleans to reinhabit the city. It was prepared by a joint taskforce of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA and CDC are collaborating with state and local public health and environmental officials, including the New Orleans City Public Health Department, the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. The team was guided by the following questions: (1) What are the core or fundamental environmental health issues to be addressed; (2) Which agencies and organizations at the federal, state, or local level are responsible for, or involved in, the various environmental health issues; (3) What progress has been made and what challenges exist; (4) What is the timetable to address these environmental health issues; (5) What resources exist or need to be brought to bear to address these environmental health issues; and (6) What are the key milestones and endpoints that define success. The team identified 13 environmental health issues and supporting infrastructure to address. This initial assessment included drinking water, wastewater, solid waste/debris, sediments/soil contamination (toxic chemicals), power, natural gas, housing, unwatering/flood water, occupational safety and health/public security, vector/rodent/animal control, road conditions, underground storage tanks (e.g., gasoline), and food safety. The EH-NAHT has the following conclusions based upon our initial assessment: A complex array of environmental health problems exists in New Orleans; The unwatering of New Orleans is a critical first step; It is important to bring infrastructure systems in New Orleans back on line; The cleanup of debris (including housing debris) and potentially contaminated soil/sediment in New Orleans are rate-limiting factors; Intense interest will exist to reinhabit New Orleans; It is critical to address the housing issues in New Orleans; An immediate need exists to allow temporary or transient entry of recovery workers, residents, and business owners; Ensuring worker safety and health and public safety and security are essential; The criteria for short-term and long-term return to New Orleans should be tailored to the timeframe and population; It is important to involve state, local, and other stakeholders in decision-making; Developing a shared vision for the rebuilding (including infrastructure) is critical; Federal, state, and local decision-makers should explore processes used by other areas in devastating circumstances; Maintaining collaboration with involved agencies is essential; Attending to the housing decisions is critical; It is necessary to maintain a systems-level perspective; Resolving potential toxic chemical exposures is important; Officials should ensure public safety and security and worker health and safety; Engage and communicate with the displaced population; Maintain a broad vision on issues affecting the rehabitation of the city; Create a long-term habitability strategy.

8. Recovering Zinc via the Sun's Energy

DATE 2005

SOURCE Chemical Engineering, v112 n8, August 2005, p14

ABSTRACT A 300-kW pilot plant, which uses solar energy to thermally reduce zinc oxide into metallic Zn, has started up at the solar tower facility of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel. The plant is a prototype built to demonstrate the feasibility of storing solar energy in the form of Zn, which can then be utilized for either hydrogen production, or for generating electricity via zinc-air batteries.

9. State Judge Issues Preliminary Injunction Requiring Warnings on Tattoo Ink Products Sold by Largest Ink Sellers in US

DATE 2005

SOURCE American Environmental Safety Institute

ABSTRACT Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Irving Feffer today [September 19, 2005] issued a preliminary injunction against Huck Spaulding Enterprises, Inc. (“Spaulding”) and Superior Tattoo Equipment Co. (“Superior”), the largest tattoo ink sellers in the country. New York-based Spaulding sells the “VooDoo” brand, while Arizona-based Superior sells the “Prizm” brand of tattoo inks in California. The preliminary injunction requires these companies to place the following warning on their tattoo ink labels, catalogs and Internet sites for their California customers: “WARNING: Tattoo inks and pigments contain many heavy metals, including Lead, Arsenic and others. All of these heavy metals have been scientifically determined by the State of California to cause cancer or birth defects and other reproductive harm. Pregnant women and women of childbearing age in particular should consult with their doctor before getting any tattoo. A person is exposed to tattoo inks and/or pigments when they get a tattoo because they are injected with tattoo ink under their skin or the tattoo ink is applied on their skin.” Judge Feffer granted the motion for preliminary injunction brought by the American Environmental Safety Institute in its Proposition 65 lawsuit filed in 2004 against Spaulding, Superior and seven other tattoo ink and pigment manufacturers. The lawsuit alleges that these companies are exposing teenagers and adults who are tattooed using their inks to dangerous levels of Lead and seven other toxic metals.

10. Toshiba launches world’s first RoHS compliant PC

DATE 2005

SOURCE Toshiba Canada

ABSTRACT Toshiba of Canada Information Systems Group (Toshiba ISG) has introduced the Tecra S3 and Tecra M3 commercial notebook computers. The Tecra S3 is believed to be the first PC in the world to fully comply with the new environmental RoHS regulations set forth by the European Parliament, well in advance of the July 1, 2006 compliance deadline. The introduction of the Tecra S3 is the latest Toshiba initiative aimed at environmental awareness and protection. In 1998, Toshiba launched the first halogen-antimony free PCB notebook PC. It was also one of the first to do away with the use of lead-based solder and is now the first to fully comply with the new, stringent RoHS Regulations. Beginning with the Tecra S3, all newly developed notebook computers from Toshiba will comply with these environmental directives. RoHS is an environmental regulation set forth by the European Parliament with the expectation to drive a worldwide movement. This regulation goes into effect on July 1, 2006. Its goal is to dramatically reduce the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium and both polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants in the production of new electrical and electronic equipment. Manufacturers will need to ensure that their products and components comply with the requirements of the RoHS regulations in order to be allowed on the market.

You are welcome to send a message to jan@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://greenlist.turi.org/ for greater topic coverage.

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Greenlist(tm) Bulletin 09/23/2005