Greenlist(tm) Bulletin 02/24/2006
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.
- New nano-canary in the nanotoxicology coalmine: the body itself
- CRS Report for Congress: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS): Fact Sheet on Three International Agreements
- VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland develops high-technology ecological paper
- Human Breast Milk Contamination with Phthalates and Alterations of Endogenous Reproductive Hormones in Infants Three Months of Age
- Environmental Credit Trading: Can Farming Benefit?
- The Turtle and the Hare: Beating the RoHS Deadline Anyway
- Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin
- Study Quantifies Personal Exposure to Air Pollution
- Perfluorochemicals in Pooled Serum Samples from
1. New nano-canary in the nanotoxicology coalmine: the body itself
SOURCE Pacific Northwest National Laboratory NewsRoom, www.pnl.gov/news/, February 17, 2006
ABSTRACT There is growing consensus among scientists,
regulators, politicians, industry and the public that we need to know more
about the possible harmful or adverse effects of nanoparticles on human health.
Likewise, most agree that these incredibly small materials can behave quite
differently from conventional materials. Nonetheless, neighborhood stores
feature products that promise benefits from these near-atomic level materials,
from paints and cosmetics to toothpaste and sunscreens. But, could we be
putting human health at risk by exposing consumers to potentially toxic
materials? To investigate the damage potential of sub-micron sized particles, S.K.
Sundaram and Thomas J. Weber, scientists at the Department of Energy’s Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory in
2. CRS Report for Congress: Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPS): Fact Sheet on Three International Agreements
AUTHOR Schierow, Linda-Jo
SOURCE Congressional Research Service, February 15, 2006
ABSTRACT Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are
chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment, tend to accumulate
as they move up the food chain, and may be harmful to people and wildlife.
Between 1998 and 2001, the
3. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland develops high-technology ecological paper
SOURCE VTT Technical Research Centre of
DATE 2006
ABSTRACT VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has
developed natural materials from raw starch, which helps to make very
high-quality paper that is fully recyclable. Due to the materials used for
filling, adhesive and coating purposes, paper developed from starch is 20 to 30
per cent lighter, which means a reduction in transport costs too. The new raw
materials and methods developed by VTT have drawn particular international
interest, because fully recyclable paper supports sustainable development and
opens totally new perspectives on reducing the environmental impacts of paper
products. After recycling, the components of starch-based paper can be fully
converted to bioenergy with less emissions than the conventional paper. With
the help of internationally unique new technology, starch can technically
replace the mineral (rock-based) filling and adhesive materials of paper. Even
partially replacing minerals with starch improves the surface strength of paper
and makes it easier to print on. Starch also helps to achieve better colour
rendering. In addition, it is easier to make starch paper glossy, which reduces
the finishing costs. Costs are further reduced by the fact that paper-finishing
devices (calenders) wear less because there are fewer or no minerals in the
paper. VTT has developed the new raw materials chemically from potato starch.
With the new raw materials it is possible to replace some of expensive
oil-based binder materials, and there are also applications in the paint and
plastic industries. However, the production costs of the new raw materials are
high at the moment.
4. Human Breast Milk Contamination with Phthalates and Alterations of Endogenous Reproductive Hormones in Infants Three Months of Age
AUTHOR
SOURCE Environmental Health Perspectives, v114 n2, February 2006, pp270-276
ABSTRACT Phthalates adversely affect the male
reproductive system in animals. We investigated whether phthalate monoester contamination
of human breast milk had any influence on the postnatal surge of reproductive
hormones in newborn boys as a sign of testicular dysgenesis. DESIGN: We
obtained biologic samples from a prospective Danish–Finnish cohort study on
cryptorchidism from 1997 to 2001. We analyzed individual breast milk samples
collected as additive aliquots 1–3 months postnatally (n = 130; 62
cryptorchid/68 healthy boys) for phthalate monoesters [mono-methyl phthalate
(mMP), mono-ethyl phthalate (mEP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (mBP), mono-benzyl
phthalate (mBzP), mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (mEHP), mono-isononyl phthalate
(miNP)]. We analyzed serum samples (obtained in 74% of all boys) for
gonadotropins, sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, and inhibin
B. RESULTS: All phthalate monoesters were found in breast milk with large
variations [medians (minimum–maximum)]: mMP 0.10 (< 0.01–5.53 µg/L), mEP
0.95 (0.07–41.4 µg/L), mBP 9.6 (0.6–10,900 µg/L), mBzP 1.2 (0.2–26 µg/L), mEHP
11 (1.5–1,410 µg/L), miNP 95 (27–469 µg/L). Finnish breast milk had higher
concentrations of mBP, mBzP, mEHP, and Danish breast milk had higher values for
miNP (p = 0.0001–0.056). No association was found between phthalate monoester
levels and cryptorchidism. However, mEP and mBP showed positive correlations
with SHBG (r = 0.323, p = 0.002 and r = 0.272, p = 0.01, respectively); mMP,
mEP, and mBP with LH:free testosterone ratio (r = 0.21–0.323, p = 0.002–0.044)
and miNP with luteinizing hormone (r = 0.243, p = 0.019). mBP was negatively
correlated with free testosterone (r = –0.22, p = 0.033). Other phthalate
monoesters showed similar but nonsignificant tendencies. CONCLUSIONS: Our data
on reproductive hormone profiles and phthalate exposures in newborn boys are in
accordance with rodent data and suggest that human Leydig cell development and
function may also be vulnerable to perinatal exposure to some phthalates. Our
findings are also in line with other recent human data showing incomplete
virilization in infant boys exposed to phthalates prenatally.
5. Environmental Credit Trading: Can Farming Benefit?
AUTHOR Ribaudo, Marc; Johansson, Robert; Jones, Carol
SOURCE Amber Waves, www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves/February06/, February 2006
ABSTRACT Environmental regulations often require firms
that emit pollutants to limit emissions to a set level or to install specific
emission-reducing technologies. While fairly straightforward, this
command-and-control approach can be costly both to the firms and to society.
Firms with high costs of pollution reduction and those with low costs are
required to meet the same requirements, which may waste resources.
Environmental credit trading, an alternative to command-and-control
regulations, is a market-based approach to comply with regulations that could
achieve pollution abatement goals at lower costs to society. Environmental
credit trading allows regulated firms to meet their obligations by purchasing
pollution abatement services (credits) from lower-cost providers. For example,
the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments established a trading program between power
plants to cut sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 50 percent from 1980 levels to
control acid rain. The trading program has been a success, with emissions
reductions exceeding the goal by 30 percent and annual cost savings estimated
at $1 billion. Trading programs have been created for environmental issues
other than air quality, such as water quality, wetlands protection, and
greenhouse gas emissions. Even though agriculture per se is not subject to most
environmental regulations, farmers can participate in these credit trading
programs by generating pollution-reduction credits and selling them to
regulated firms. Farmers can benefit if the cost of generating credits is less
than the price they command. Farmer participation in trading programs has been
limited to date, but USDA has recently committed to promoting farmers’
participation in trading programs. The success of these programs will rest on
several key design elements and their ability to generate the economic
incentives needed to encourage both the regulated firms and farmers to
participate.
6. The Turtle and the Hare: Beating the RoHS Deadline Anyway
AUTHOR Biocca, Peter
SOURCE Global SMT & Packaging, v6 n2, February 2006, pp20-22
ABSTRACT Another year has begun, and with the impending
July 1st 2006 deadline for the RoHS Directive rapidly approaching, some
companies are experiencing the stresses involved in meeting their obligations.
Some assemblers have been looking at lead-free soldering for many years and are
making lead-free products; others have gathered valuable information in the
last year; and still others are just starting to look at lead-free and RoHS.
The last year has been a great year for lead-free and RoHS information, and the
numerous conferences, seminars, papers, technical articles and web-casts have
been a little overwhelming. A substantial amount of very good information is
now available to the assembler wishing to transition. This was not the case a
year ago when solder alloy confusion still reigned. This article reviews the
current status of lead-free and gives the latest information for those
companies still making the transition.
7. Proposed Risk Assessment Bulletin
SOURCE
ABSTRACT As part of an ongoing effort to improve the
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information disseminated by the
federal government to the public, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), in
consultation with the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), proposes
to issue new technical guidance on risk assessments produced by the federal
government. Interested parties should submit comments to OMB’s Office of
Information and Regulatory Affairs on or before June 15, 2006. Risk assessment
is a useful tool for estimating the likelihood and severity of risks to human
health, safety and the environment and for informing decisions about how to
manage those risks. For the purposes of this Bulletin, the term “risk
assessment” refers to a document that assembles and synthesizes scientific
information to determine whether a potential hazard exists and/or the extent of
possible risk to human health, safety or the environment. The acceptance of
risk assessment in health, safety, and environmental policy was enhanced by the
seminal report issued by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) in 1983: Risk
Assessment in the Federal Government: Managing the Process. The report presented
a logical approach to assessing environmental, health and safety risk that was
widely accepted and used by government agencies. Over twenty years after
publication of the NAS report, there is general agreement that the risk
assessment process can be improved. The process should be better understood,
more transparent and more objective. Risk assessment can be most useful when
those who rely on it to inform the risk management process understand its
value, nature and limitations, and use it accordingly. OMB, in collaboration
with OSTP, has a strong interest in the technical quality of agency risk
assessments because these assessments play an important role in the development
of public policies at the national, international, state and local levels. The
increasing importance of risk assessment in the development of public policy,
regulation, and decision making requires that the technical quality and
transparency of agency risk assessments meet high quality standards. Moreover, a
risk assessment prepared by one federal agency may inform the policy decisions
of another federal agency, or a risk assessment prepared by one or more federal
agencies may inform decisions made by legislators or the judiciary. This
Bulletin builds upon the historic interest that both OMB and OSTP have
expressed in advancing the state of the art of risk assessment. The purpose of
this Bulletin is to enhance the technical quality and objectivity of risk
assessments prepared by federal agencies by establishing uniform, minimum
standards.
8. Study Quantifies Personal Exposure to Air Pollution
SOURCE Mickey Leland National Urban
ABSTRACT A study published by the
9. Perfluorochemicals in Pooled Serum Samples from
AUTHOR Calafat, Antonia M.; Kuklenyik, Zsuzsanna;
Caudill, Samuel P.; Reidy, John A.;
SOURCE Environmental Science & Technology ASAP, February 22, 2006
ABSTRACT Manufacturers have used perfluorochemicals (PFCs) since the 1950s in many industrial and consumer products, including protective coatings for fabrics and carpet, paper coatings, insecticide formulations, and surfactants. Some PFCs are persistent ubiquitous contaminants in the environment and in humans. Exposures to PFCs result in potential developmental and other adverse effects in animals. The sources of human exposure to PFCs and the potential health risks associated with exposure are still unclear, and differences in patterns of human exposure may vary. We measured the serum concentrations of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA; C8), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and 8 other PFCs in 54 pooled serum samples collected from 1832 participants of the 2001-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were 12 years of age and older. The pools represented three major racial groups/ ethnicities (non-Hispanic blacks, non-Hispanic whites, and Mexican Americans), four age categories (12-19 years, 20-39 years, 40-59 years, and 60 years and older), and both genders. PFCs were extracted from 100 íL of serum using on-line solid-phase extraction coupled to isotope dilution-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The limits of detection ranged from 0.05 ng/mL to 0.2 ng/mL. The concentrations of most PFCs were similar among the four age groups. For PFOS, the estimated least-squares mean (LSM) concentrations among non-Hispanic white males (40.19 ng/mL) and females (23.97 ng/mL) were greater than among non-Hispanic black males (18.27 ng/mL) and females (17.93 ng/mL) or Mexican American males (13.71 ng/mL) and females (10.40 ng/ mL). Similarly, for PFOA, the LSM concentrations among non- Hispanic white males (6.98 ng/mL) and females (3.97 ng/ mL) were greater than among non-Hispanic black males (3.62 ng/mL) and females (2.85 ng/mL) or Mexican American males (2.89 ng/mL) and females (2.08 ng/mL). Non-Hispanic whites had also greater LSM concentrations of PFHxS than non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans. These findings indicate different patterns of human exposure to PFCs among the population groups examined and stress the importance of conducting research to identify the environmental sources and pathways of human exposure to PFCs.
Compiled by the TURI Library, University of Massachusetts Lowell
This page updated Friday March 03 2006