Greenlist(tm) Bulletin 11/11/2005
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.
- Brussels Clears Deca-BDE for Use. October 2005
- Market Barometer: 2005 Survey of Green Building Plus
Green Building in K-12 and Higher Education. 2005
- Product Stewardship Part 1: Adding governance to your
stewardship strategy. November 2005
- MBDC Announces First-Ever Cradle to Cradle Environmental Certification for Six Industry Products
- Neuropsychological effects of chronic low-dose exposure
to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): A cross-sectional study. October 2005
- Environment Matters at the World Bank: Annual Review 2005
1. Brussels Clears Deca-BDE for Use
AUTHOR Scott, Alex
SOURCE Chemical Week, v167 n35, October 26, 2005, p16
ABSTRACT The European Commission has exempted the flame
retardant decabrominated diphenyl ether (deca-BDE) from all restrictions under
the commission's hazardous substances directive, allowing continued use of
deca-BDE in applications including electronics. Deca-BDE had faced a ban from
the end of this year, but the commission says there is "no need for
measures to reduce the risks for consumers" and that the substance is
exempted from any restrictions until further notice.
2. Market Barometer: 2005 Survey of Green Building Plus
Green Building in K-12 and Higher Education
DATE 2005
SOURCE Turner Green Buildings
ABSTRACT K–12 school districts, colleges, and
universities are increasingly interested in the benefits of Green facilities,
which are designed to increase the productivity and well-being of students and
teachers, lower operating costs, and reduce or eliminate negative impacts on
the environment. Green facilities provide a range of significant benefits
including better student performance, increased ability to attract and retain
teachers, and an improved image in the community. Projects that incorporate
Green features also have lower total costs over time due to reduced energy
costs and more efficient operations overall. K–12 school districts and higher
educational institutions are facing demands that students meet the higher
standards required for the United States to remain competitive in more
integrated, global markets. In 2004, $33.9 billion of educational construction
projects were completed, and K–12 school districts are estimated to spend $6
billion each year on energy costs alone. With institutions working to raise
educational standards in a time of budget constraints, the potential for Green
facilities to boost student performance while saving money should be
irresistible. But while Green educational facilities are less expensive than
traditional facilities due to more efficient operations, many educational
institutions don’t consider long-term project costs in their planning at all.
And even for institutions that do, most still give the greatest emphasis to
initial project costs, often forgoing the cost savings and educational benefits
that Green construction provides. These are the most important findings of the
2005 Green Building Market Barometer. This is the second year that the Turner
Construction Company has conducted a broad assessment of the views of senior
executives on Green buildings. The 2005 Market Barometer surveyed 665 senior
executives, with a special focus on Green building issues in educational
facilities. In addition, the views of executives from organizations working
with a wide variety of different types of facilities were solicited on the
benefits and costs of Green construction.
3. Product Stewardship Part 1: Adding governance to your
stewardship strategy
AUTHOR MacLean, Richard
SOURCE Environmental Protection, v16 n9,
November/December 2005
ABSTRACT The following is the first part in a two-part
series that examines the subject of product stewardship. This issue is taking
on a whole new significance in light of emerging global regulations based on
the precautionary principle and management's push to develop new products in
expanded markets. What are the dynamics in play and what strategies are
appropriate for a global marketplace? While there is no generally accepted
definition for product stewardship, a common theme runs through most
descriptions of this concept: whoever designs, produces, sells, or uses a
product has a shared responsibility for minimizing the product's harmful
impacts throughout all stages of its life-cycle. Implicit in this concept is
that stakeholders along the life-cycle have a voice, and that the greatest
responsibility lies with whoever has the best ability to affect possible
harmful impacts of the product. The unfortunate real world application of the
latter point is that any individual or group can sue the company with the
deepest pockets along the product's life-cycle. That view may reflect the most
extreme cynicism, but there is also a very real and legitimate matter of
business ethics involved with product stewardship. Even if a company is
shielded by regulations or case law, there remain fundamental business
questions of what is fair, sensible, and consistent with company values and
culture. Most definitions narrowly focus on environmental concerns, but safety
and health issues should be fair game in a robust product stewardship strategy,
especially if there are concerns that fall outside the domain of government
product safety regulations [e.g., the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), the
Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the Department of
Transportation (DOT), and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in the
United States]. Indeed, these "unregulated areas" can cause the
greatest concern because companies may not assign clear lines of responsibility
and/or oversight is split among groups that may rarely communicate with one
another. In addition, services should be included since these can also have
significant environmental, health, and safety impacts.
4. MBDC Announces First-Ever Cradle to Cradle Environmental
Certification for Six Industry Products
SOURCE McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC)
DATE 2005
ABSTRACT McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) has
announced six products as the first to qualify for Cradle to Cradle™
certification. MBDC's new program evaluates and certifies the quality of
products based on Cradle to Cradle™ Design principles by measuring their
positive effects upon the environment, human health and social equity. Named as
the first products to qualify under the rigorous evaluation system, are:
> Athletic Polymer Systems, Inc. Tartan® Track
> Haworth, Inc. Zody™ Chair
> Hycrete Technologies, LLC Hycrete® Concrete Additive
> Pendleton® Woolen Mills Classic Wool Flannel
> Steelcase, Inc. Think™ Chair
> Victor Innovatex, Inc. Eco Intelligent Polyester®
MBDC's Cradle to
Cradle™ certification process examines products at many levels to ensure they
meet key standards for ecologically-effective design. Basic certification
levels include Biological Nutrient or Technical Nutrient -- both of which are
evaluated in terms of human and ecological health, intended for simple products
-- and Platinum, Gold or Silver which are evaluated to meet additional
standards including energy, water and social criteria. The strict MBDC
certification processes provide corporations proof and validation of their products'
quality, performance, and ecological intelligence, all of which are designed to
enhance a product's market value.
5. Neuropsychological effects of chronic low-dose exposure
to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): A cross-sectional study
AUTHOR Peper, Martin; Klett, Martin; Morgenstern, Rudolph
SOURCE Environmental Health: A Global Access Science
Source, 2005, 4:22
ABSTRACT Background: Exposure to indoor air of private or
public buildings contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) has raised
health concerns in long-term users. This exploratory neuropsychological group
study investigated the potential adverse effects of chronic low-dose exposure
to specific air-borne low chlorinated PCBs on well-being and behavioral
measures in adult humans. Methods: Thirty employees exposed to indoor air
contaminated with PCBs from elastic sealants in a school building were compared
to 30 non-exposed controls matched for education and age, controlling for
gender (age range 37–61 years). PCB exposure was verified by external exposure
data and biological monitoring (PCB 28, 101, 138, 153, 180). Subjective
complaints, learning and memory, executive function, and visual-spatial
function was assessed by standardized neuropsychological testing. Since
exposure status depended on the use of contaminated rooms, an objectively
exposed subgroup (N = 16; PCB 28 = 0.20 µg/l; weighted exposure duration 17.9 ±
7 years) was identified and compared with 16 paired controls. Results: Blood
analyses indicated a moderate exposure effect size (d) relative to expected
background exposure for total PCB (4.45 ± 2.44 µg/l; d = 0.4). A significant
exposure effect was found for the low chlorinated PCBs 28 (0.28 ± 0.25 µg/l; d
= 1.5) and 101 (0.07 ± 0.09 µg/l; d => 0.7). Although no neuropsychological
effects exceeded the adjusted significance level, estimation statistics showed
elevated effect sizes for several variables. The objectively exposed subgroup
showed a trend towards increased subjective attentional and emotional
complaints (tiredness and slowing of practical activities, emotional state) as
well as attenuated attentional performance (response shifting and alertness in
a cued reaction task). Conclusion: Chronic inhalation of low chlorinated PCBs
that involved elevated blood levels was associated with a subtle attenuation of
emotional well-being and attentional function. Extended research is needed to
replicate the potential long-term low PCB effects in a larger sample.
6. Environment Matters at the World Bank: Annual Review 2005
SOURCE World Bank
DATE 2005
ABSTRACT In line with one of the major themes in the
World Bank’s Environment Strategy, this year’s edition is devoted to the theme
of environmental health. We also provide a broader, annual review of the past
fiscal year from an environmental perspective, captured most directly in the
Director’s Overview and supported by regional contributions in the latter part
of this edition. Viewpoint articles in this edition reflect several external
perspectives. WHO lays out the panorama of environmental risk factors; a
successful example of combating urban air pollution is provided by the former
mayor of Bogotá; successful strategies to enhance sanitation among poor people
are suggested by an NGO (WaterAid) with an impressive implementation record;
and a leading researcher gives his perspective on indoor air pollution. As
usual, Environment Matters provides a Bank-wide review of our safeguard
policies and conveys the latest data on our environmental lending and
analytical work. This year’s feature articles all cluster around the main theme
of environmental health: Ruta and Sarraf explain the basics of economic
valuation of health impacts of environmental risks; Kaufmann summarizes a
recent study that provides an overview of what we know about the effectiveness
of interventions in water & sanitation; Ahmed and Awe return to the theme
of indoor air pollution with a study from Guatemala; Constant and Procee
explain how the Bank’s Clean Air Initiative works in several regions; and Tynan
concludes the section with an article on the risks that chemicals pose to human
health. A major part of this edition—as in the past—consists of reviews of each
of the Bank’s Regions. With attention to the environmental health theme, each
Region has chosen a number of issues and projects to feature in their annual
review. This section provides ample illustration of the diversity of issues
that the Bank is confronting in collaboration with client countries. The
regional reviews are complemented by the institutional perspectives of the
International Finance Corporation, which deals with private sector development,
and the World Bank Institute, which is responsible for capacity building in
client countries. The Bank’s Development Marketplace focused on environment
this year, and two winning projects are presented in this edition. New
environmental publications from the World Bank are also presented on the back
cover.
COPYRIGHT © 2005 by the TURI Library University of Massachusetts Lowell
This page updated Friday November 09 2007