Greenlist(tm) Bulletin 08/17/2007
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:
- Plain soap as effective as antibacterial but without the risk
- Cost of green revisited: reexamining the feasibility and cost impact of sustainable design in the light of increased market adoption
- Chemical facility security: regulation and issues for Congress
- Printed electronics: ink on the brink
- Elevated PBDE levels in pet cats: sentinels for humans?
- Global water tool
- Where does the nano go? End-of-life regulation of nanotechnologies
1. Plain soap as effective as antibacterial but without the risk
Source: University of Michigan News Service, August 15, 2007
Abstract: Antibacterial soaps show no health benefits over plain soaps and, in fact, may render some common antibiotics less effective, says a University of Michigan public health professor. In the first known comprehensive analysis of whether antibacterial soaps work better than plain soaps, Allison Aiello of the U-M School of Public Health and her team found that washing hands with an antibacterial soap was no more effective in preventing infectious illness than plain soap. Moreover, antibacterial soaps at formulations sold to the public do not remove any more bacteria from the hands during washing than plain soaps.
Because of the way the main active ingredient—triclosan—in many antibacterial soaps reacts in the cells, it may cause some bacteria to become resistant to commonly used drugs such as amoxicillin, the researchers say. These changes have not been detected at the population level, but e-coli bacteria bugs adapted in lab experiments showed resistance when exposed to as much as 0.1 percent wt/vol triclosan soap. "What we are saying is that these e-coli could survive in the concentrations that we use in our (consumer formulated) antibacterial soaps," Aiello said. "What it means for consumers is that we need to be aware of what's in the products. The soaps containing triclosan used in the community setting are no more effective than plain soap at preventing infectious illness symptoms, as well as reducing bacteria on the hands."
The study, "Consumer Antibacterial Soaps: Effective or Just Risky?" appears in the August edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. The team looked at 27 studies conducted between 1980 and 2006, and found that soaps containing triclosan within the range of concentrations commonly used in the community setting (0.1 to 0.45 percent wt/vol) were no more effective than plain soaps. Triclosan is used in higher concentrations in hospitals and other clinical settings, and may be more effective at reducing illness and bacteria. Triclosan works by targeting a biochemical pathway in the bacteria that allows the bacteria to keep its cell wall intact. Because of the way triclosan kills the bacteria, mutations can happen at the targeted site. Aiello says a mutation could mean that the triclosan can no longer get to the target site to kill the bacteria because the bacteria and the pathway have changed form.
The analysis concludes that government regulators should evaluate antibacterial product claims and advertising, and further studies are encouraged. The FDA does not formally regulate the levels of triclosan used in consumer products. Other antiseptic products on the market contain different active ingredients, such as the alcohol in hand sanitizers or the bleach in some antibacterial household cleaners. Aiello's team did not study those products and those ingredients are not at issue.
Link: http://www.ns.umich.edu/htdocs/releases/story.php?id=5990
2. Cost of green revisited: reexamining the feasibility and cost impact of sustainable design in the light of increased market adoption
Author: Matthiessen, Lisa Fay; Morris, Peter
Source: Davis Langdon, 2007
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to revisit the question of the cost of incorporating sustainable design features into projects. It builds on the work undertaken in the earlier paper “Costing Green: A Comprehensive Cost Database and Budget Methodology,” released in 2004, and looks at the developments that have occurred over the past three years, as sustainable design has become more widely accepted and used. In the earlier paper we examined the cost of green from three perspectives: the cost of incorporating individual sustainable elements, the cost of green buildings compared to a population of buildings with a similar program, and the cost of green buildings compared to their original budget. This paper provides an updated look at the cost of green by examining a larger sampling of buildings and looking at additional building types. In both this and the earlier paper, the USGBC’s LEED rating system is used as a parameter for determining level of sustainable design. The 2006 study shows essentially the same results as 2004: there is no significant difference in average costs for green buildings as compared to non-green buildings. Many project teams are building green buildings with little or no added cost, and with budgets well within the cost range of non-green buildings with similar programs. We have also found that, in many areas of the country, the contracting community has embraced sustainable design, and no longer sees sustainable design requirements as additional burdens to be priced in their bids. Data from this study shows that many projects are achieving certification through pursuit of the same lower cost strategies, and that more advanced, or more expensive strategies are often avoided. Most notably, few projects attempt to reach higher levels of energy reduction beyond what is required by local ordinances, or beyond what can be achieved with a minimum of cost impact.
Link: http://www.dladamson.com/upload/images/
publications/USA/The%20Cost%20of%20Green%20Revisited.pdf
3. Chemical facility security: regulation and issues for Congress
Authors: Shea, Dana A.; Tatelman, Todd B.
Source: Congressional Research Service, 2007
Abstract: On April 9, 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule (72 Federal Register 17688-17745 (April 9, 2007)) on chemical facility security, implementing the statutory authority granted in the Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007 (P.L. 109-295, Section 550). The regulations require chemical facilities possessing amounts and types of substances considered by the DHS Secretary to be hazardous to notify DHS and undergo a consequence-based screening process. The Secretary then determines which chemical facilities are highrisk, and thus need to comply with additional security requirements. High-risk facilities are to be categorized into tiers based on risk, and those with higher risk must comply with more stringent, performance-based security requirements. Under the interim final rule, high-risk chemical facilities are required to create and submit to DHS a vulnerability assessment; create and submit to DHS a site security plan, addressing the vulnerability assessment and complying with the performance-based standards; and implement the site security plan at the chemical facility. The DHS Secretary is to approve or disapprove each step in the process, and may require the chemical facility to improve the submission or implementation.
The interim final rule establishes a new category of protected information, Chemical-terrorism Vulnerability Information (CVI), granting it a status between sensitive but unclassified and classified information. The Secretary maintains discretion over who will gain access to this information, how it may be used, and what will comprise CVI. Additionally, the interim final rule may preempt future state and local chemical facility security regulations.
Key issues debated in previous Congresses are highlighted in the issued security regulations, even where the enacted authorizing statute remained mute on the topic. These issues include what facilities should be considered as chemical facilities; which chemical facilities should be considered as “high-risk” and thus regulated; the scope of the risk-based performance standards for different tiers of high-risk chemical facilities; the appropriateness of federal preemption of existing state chemical facility security regulation; and the availability of information for public comment, potential litigation, and congressional oversight. One key issue not directly addressed by the regulation is the role of inherently safer technology in the chemical security process.
Congress may take further action. Since the statutory authority to regulate chemical facilities expires in 2009, policymakers may choose to observe the impact of the current regulations and, if necessary, address any perceived weaknesses at a later date. Congress might disapprove the interim final rule or attempt to influence its implementation through oversight or provisions in appropriations language.
Alternatively, Congress may decide that additional legislation is required. Three authorizing bills (H.R. 1530, H.R. 1574, and H.R. 1633) on chemical facility security have been introduced in the House, and chemical facility security language has been attached to appropriations bills (H.R. 2638 and S. 1644).
Link: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL33847.pdf
4. Printed electronics: ink on the brink
Author: Webb, Warren
Source: EDN, August 16, 2007 pp35-42
Abstract: Printed electronics may be the next big thing in our technological future and promises extremely low-cost, flexible, and disposable circuitry that you can manufacture with custom ink-jet printers or high-speed presses. Leading-edge companies are using specialized ink technology to transform basic circuit elements, such as thin-film transistors, resistors, inductors, and capacitors into printed batteries, displays, sensors, RFID tags, interactive packaging, solar panels, and even speakers. Although the printed-electronics concept has been around for years, recent advances in conductive-ink chemistry and flexible substrates promise to deliver a flood of new markets and application areas.
Unlike traditional silicon-based circuitry, you manufacture printed electronics using an additive process that deposits multiple layers of conductive, semiconductive, and dielectric materials onto a flexible medium, such as plastic film, foil, or paper. Most current printing processes—such as ink jet, roll-to-roll offset, flexography, rotogravure, or screen printing—can place individual layers. With a relatively small investment in capital equipment for manufacturing and the ease of producing millions of copies on demand, printed electronics will target high-volume, simple-function consumer applications previously impractical for silicon-based circuitry.
Link: http://www.edn.com/article/CA6466207.html
5. Elevated PBDE levels in pet cats: sentinels for humans?
Author: Dye, Janice A.; Venier, Marta; Zhu, Lingyan; Ward, Cynthia R.; Hites, Ronald A.; Birnbaum, Linda S.
Source: Environmental Science & Technology, ASAP article, online August 15, 2007
Abstract: Co-incident with the introduction of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) into household materials nearly 30 years ago, feline hyperthyroidism (FH) has increased dramatically. Risk of developing FH is associated with indoor living and consumption of canned cat food. We hypothesized that increases in FH were, in part, related to increased PBDE exposure, with key routes of exposure being diet and ingestion of house dust. This study was designed to determine whether body burdens of PBDEs in hyperthyroid (HT) cats were greater than that of young or sick non-HT cats. Serum samples and clinical information were collected from 23 cats. Serum and dry and canned cat food were analyzed for PBDEs. A spectrum of BDE congeners was detected in all cats, with BDE-47, 99, 207, and 209 predominating. Mean ± standard error (and median) cumulative PBDE serum concentrations of young, old non-HT, and HT cats were 4.3 ± 1.5 (3.5), 10.5 ± 3.5 (5.9), and 12.7 ± 3.9 (6.2) ng/mL, respectively. Due to high variability within each group, no association was detected between HT cats and PBDE levels. Indicative of age- or disease-dependent changes in PBDE metabolism, BDE-47/99 ratios were inversely correlated with age, and 47/99 and 100/99 ratios in HT cats were significantly lower than those in the other cats. Overall, PBDE levels in cats were 20- to 100-fold greater than median levels in U.S. adults. Our results support the hypothesis that cats are highly exposed to PBDEs; hence, pet cats may serve as sentinels to better assess human exposure and adverse health outcomes related to low-level but chronic PBDE exposure.
6. Global Water Tool
Source: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
Abstract: On August 15, 2007 the WBCSD's Water Working Group launched the Global Water Tool. It's a free and easy-to-use tool for companies and organizations to map their water use and assess risks relative to their global operations and supply chains.
A company using the tool will be able to determine how many of its sites are currently at risk from water scarcity, both now and in the future; how many of its employees and suppliers are in water-scarce regions; calculate the water consumption and efficiency across global operations; establish the water risks in its portfolio; and create Global Reporting Initiative indicators, inventories and risk metrics for water use.
Link: http://www.wbcsd.org/web/watertool.htm
7. Where does the nano go? End-of-life regulation of nanotechnologies
Author: Breggin, Linda K.; Pendergrass, john
Source: Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, July 2007
Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must make key decisions about how to apply the two major end-of-life statutes to nanotechnology waste in order to ensure adequate oversight for these technologies, concludes a new report from the Wilson Center’s Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies. However, the report notes that the Agency lacks much of the data on human health and eco-toxicity that form the basis for such determinations, creating some tough challenges ahead in EPA’s decision-making process. The report provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of two key EPA-administered laws that regulate the end-of-life management strategies for nanotechnology materials and products. These are the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as the Superfund statute.
According to the report, companies must recognize that as a result of CERCLA, RCRA and other environmental statutes, the environmental due diligence that accompanies many commercial transactions and securities offerings should include an examination of the handling and disposal of nanomaterials. Insurers also need to “take into account the potential for CERCLA and RCRA liability arising from releases or disposal of waste nanomaterials and products in drafting new insurance policies, interpreting existing policies, and planning for future potential liabilities.” Central to all risk management efforts is the need for the EPA to “conduct outreach and education to the private sector, particularly to small companies and start-ups, about how RCRA and CERCLA could apply to nanomaterials.”
Link: http://www.nanotechproject.org/132/
where-does-the-nano-go-new-report-on-end-of-life-regulation-of-nanotechnologies
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://slk060.liberty3.net/turi/ for greater topic coverage.
This page updated Friday August 17 2007