Greenlist(tm) Bulletin 09/07/2007
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:
1. Environment-friendly polymeric binders
2. The multitude and diversity of environmental carcinogens
3. A forced convection platform with a solder fountain showed a dramatic impact on copper dissolution
4. Nano particles without macroproblems
5. Concern rises over effects of parabens
6. GreenFaith: Stewardship. Resources for Toxics Reduction [website]
7. Detergents, eye rinses and other products with an on-off switch
8. Integrating ecodesign by conducting changes in SMEs
9. Ending toxic dependency: the state of IPM
10. Oakland sued over ban on plastic bags
1. Environment-friendly polymeric binders
Author: Uminski, Maciej
Source: PCI Paint & Coatings Industry, August 1, 2007
Abstract: Polymeric binders are valuable raw materials in coatings and in the construction industry. Final product properties strongly depend on the type and nature of the applied binder. Because of environmental concerns, powder coatings, 100% UV/EB curing systems and waterborne polymer dispersions are being substituted for traditional resins used in solventborne coatings. Development in the area of polymeric dispersions and radiation-curable materials is the main subject of this paper. Application of the heterogeneous polymers usually described as core-shell structures in paints and cement compositions is discussed. In the radiation-curing area, waterborne systems based on acrylic polymers are presented. A potential application as a binder of radiation-curable heterogeneous polymer dispersions is also highlighted.
Link: http://www.pcimag.com/CDA/Articles/Feature_Article/
BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000153957
2. The multitude and diversity of environmental carcinogens
Authors: Belpomme, Dominique; Irigaray, Philippe; Hardell, Lennart; Clapp, Richard W.; Montagnier, Luc; Epstein, Samuel; Sasco, Annie J.
Source: Environmental Research, doi:10.1016/j.envres.2007.07.002
Abstract: We have recently proposed that lifestyle-related factors, screening and aging cannot fully account for the present overall growing incidence of cancers. In order to propose the concept that in addition to lifestyle related factors, exogenous environmental factors may play a more important role in carcinogenesis than it is expected, and may therefore account for the growing incidence of cancer, we overview herein environmental factors, rated as certainly or potentially carcinogenic by the International Agency for Cancer Research (IARC). We thus analyze the carcinogenic effect of microorganisms (including viruses), radiations (including radioactivity, UV and pulsed electromagnetic fields) and xenochemicals. Chemicals related to environmental pollution appear to be of critical importance, since they can induce occupational cancers as well as other cancers. Of major concerns are: outdoor air pollution by carbon particles associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; indoor air pollution by environmental tobacco smoke, formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds such as benzene and 1,3 butadiene, which may particularly affect children, and food pollution by food additives and by carcinogenic contaminants such as nitrates, pesticides, dioxins and other organochlorines. In addition, carcinogenic metals and metalloids, pharmaceutical medicines and cosmetics may be involved. Although the risk fraction attributable to environmental factors is still unknown, this long list of carcinogenic and especially mutagenic factors supports our working hypothesis according to which numerous cancers may in fact be caused by the recent modification of our environment.
3. A forced convection platform with a solder fountain showed a dramatic impact on copper dissolution
Authors: Farrell, Robert; Bodmer, Paul; Tostevin, Bruce; Russo, Richard; Morose, Gregory
Source: Circuits Assembly, August 1, 2007
Abstract: Benchmark Electronics conducted a Pb-free implementation for a customer in January 2006 that included documentation of the process and findings by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute. This customer designs and manufactures computer systems based on open industry standards. The Pb-free conversion was done on a limited number of an existing SnPb high-reliability medical product. This product is referred to as the Maverick Card and is 7.5" by 9.2", 16 layers with seven layers being power or ground, 0.084" thick, and populated with a total 1,694 SMT and PTH components on both sides. The SnPb version has been in production for an extended period of time.
The Pb-free version included three surface finishes: OSP, ENIG and ImAg; all chemistry was organic acid (OA). The assembly required four reflow cycles because select BGAs could only be obtained as SnPb. The four assembly profiles were, in order, Pb-free bottomside, Pb-free topside, SnPb bottomside and SnPb topside.
All PTH components were soldered during the original assembly on a SAC 305 solder fountain with the molten solder at 285°C. The solder fountain included complete board preheat to a topside laminate temperature of 132°C prior to component soldering. The average contact time on the solder fountain was 9 sec. for each PTH component, and the objective was to obtain IPC-A-610 Class 3 joints during the original assembly and subsequent forced rework. Class 3 joints require a minimum of 75% flow solder fill in the z-axis.
Link: http://circuitsassembly.com/cms/content/view/5201/95/
4. Nano particles without macroproblems
Author: Karn, Barbara; Matthews, H. Scott
Source: IEEE Spectrum, September 2007
Abstract: Little by little, nanotechnology has crept up on us. From a mostly academic exercise 20 years ago, it has swiftly progressed to the point where the technology is just about everywhere: in fact, there may very well be engineered nanomaterials in the clothes you’re wearing at this very moment. If they were sold to you as wrinkle-free or stainproof, the fibers were almost certainly treated with nanotech processes that stave off stains and creases.
More than 500 products on the market today incorporate some kind of nanotechnology. With nanotech, sunscreens protect better against ultraviolet rays, paint can block cellphone signals, glass windows remain streak-free, washing machines can kill harmful bacteria, food storage bags can keep their contents fresher, tennis and badminton rackets are stiffer and lighter, and dietary supplements can claim to help ward off colds, flu, and anthrax. Toothpaste, hockey sticks, engine oil, and even a breast cream have all gotten the nano treatment lately. By 2015, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation, such goods and services could add more than US $1 trillion per year to the global economy.
The news, however, is not all good. There is a growing body of evidence that nanotechnological chemicals and related substances could pollute the air, soil, and water and damage human health. Preliminary studies from Arizona State University suggest that nanoparticles accumulate in the food chain and could cause problems later on. But if we act quickly, nanotechnology presents a distinct opportunity: we have a chance to deploy it properly—from both environmental and health perspectives.
This is an opportunity the semiconductor industry missed. Research into possible environmental and health implications of solvents and other chemicals, including arsine and trichloroethylene, wasn’t done at the birth of the industry, before such toxic substances were widespread in the environment. If it had been, we might not be stuck with polluted sites left by manufacturing plants.
For nanotechnology, the chance to act responsibly won’t be there forever. New nanomanufacturing processes are being brought online every day, and if we’re not careful, we could be jolted years from now by unintended consequences and messes to clean up. What’s at stake is potentially greater than the billions of dollars in health and environmental costs particular to nanotech: for the first time, industrial society has the opportunity to usher in a new paradigm for dealing with the blights that until now have been seen as inevitable in big new industries. Instead of cleaning up the waste stream at the end of a product’s or process’s life, regulators and manufacturers—usually aware of the health and environmental issues they are facing—can solve many problems by preventing pollution before it occurs. For example, simply not using a material that’s a known environmental hazard or designing processes that run at lower temperatures can prevent pollution problems.
Link: http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/sep07/5487
5. Concern rises over effects of parabens
Author: Deardorff, Julie
Source: Chicago Tribune, September 4, 2007
Abstract: A vigilant label reader, 36-year-old Karen Altschul of Vernon Hills has known her favorite lotions and sunscreens contained parabens, or synthetic chemicals used as preservatives. But now that she routinely sees products at Sephora touted as "paraben-free," she wonders: "What, exactly, are parabens, and are they dangerous?"
Those are questions more consumers are asking now that "paraben-free" offerings have hit the mainstream; products made by Burt's Bees, which never has used parabens, are available everywhere from Whole Foods and Target to Borders, CVS, Walgreens and even Hallmark stores.
For years, parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and benzyl) have been considered a cheap and indispensable way to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts and molds in personal-care products such as shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and sunscreens. Parabens are why products can survive the three-month boat trip from China, sit on store or warehouse shelves for years or be exposed to extreme temperatures.
But studies have shown that some parabens can mimic the activity of the hormone estrogen in the body's cells. Estrogenic activity in the body is associated with certain forms of breast cancer. And parabens are turning up in breast tumors.
Link: http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/health/
chi-0904_health_parabens_r_qsep04,1,3858838.story
6. GreenFaith: Stewardship. Resources for Toxics Reduction [website]
Source: GreenFaith.org, 2007
Abstract: As you might guess, most religious institutions use toxic chemicals to clean and maintain their facilities or to eliminate pests, usually without realizing the dangers that doing so poses to human health and the environment…or that there are healthier alternatives. Toxic cleaning products – often applied in liquid form or sprayed – cause harm in two ways:
* They run off into the ground and contaminate aquifers and water supplies.
* They expose people – most significantly children and workers – to unhealthy levels of toxic chemicals which can cause long-term health damage.
Other sources of toxic waste from religious buildings include items that are periodically thrown out--batteries, printer and copier cartridges--and electronic waste – cell phones, computer equipment and electronic peripherals. Such materials contain hazardous chemicals and heavy metals which, if disposed of as part of the regular waste stream, spread these dangerous substances into the environment, endangering human and ecological health.
GreenFaith can help you as you strive to make your religious institution a toxics-free zone. The first step is to take a toxics self-audit so that you are able to identify the sources of toxic waste at your facility and begin creating strategies for eliminating this waste – either through switching to environmentally preferable products or by better waste disposal and recycling.
Link: http://greenfaith.org/stewardship/toxics.html
7. Detergents, eye rinses and other products with an on-off switch
Source: ScienceDaily, August 21, 2007
Abstract: Researchers in Australia have developed a "switchable" detergent with a wide range of potential applications -- from a laundry detergent that hardly needs a rinse cycle to a non-irritating eye rinse to increasing the amount of oil that companies can extract from a well. The unusual product, described at the 234th national meeting of the American Chemical Society, is a biological detergent or surfactant, called a Pepfactant because it is made from peptides, the building blocks of proteins.
"One of the possible applications that we are aware of is a surfactant that would switch between the wash cycle and rinse cycle during clothes washing, which would mean you could remove visible suds without having to use as large a quantity of water," said biochemist Annette Dexter, Ph.D., of the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at The University of Queensland. Dexter is a co-inventor of pepfactants, along with Queensland colleague Anton Middelberg, a chemical engineer.
The unique aspect of the pepfactant is that it can be "switched on" or "switched off" depending on its intended application. For example, in laundry detergents there is a built-in pH change that occurs between the wash and rinse cycles. Pepfactants that are designed to respond to that pH change could be added to the detergent to reduce the rinse time, Dexter noted.
During the wash cycle, the pepfactant would be in the "on" position, allowing the detergent to clean soiled clothes. During the rinse cycle when the pH changes, the pepfactant switches "off," allowing the suds to be removed with much less water than conventional detergents. Similarly, the pepfactants can be used to help separate oil from water and increase the number of barrels of oil that can be extracted from a well. "Currently, as little as one-third of the oil present underground is actually extracted from a well," Dexter said.
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/08/070821153933.htm
8. Integrating ecodesign by conducting changes in SMEs
Author: Le Pochat, Stephane; Bertoluci, Gwenola; Froehlich, Daniel
Source: Journal of Cleaner Production, v15 n7, 2007, pp671-680
Abstract: Despite the progressive use of ecodesign in the industrial world, taking into account environmental constraints remains problematical for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), which seem to be remaining on the fringe of the movement. Beyond the lack of environmental culture in the enterprises, the problem stems from the ecodesign tools which have not been designed with any thought of integrating them into the enterprises’ organisation. There is indeed no method for ecodesign integration in companies. We show in this article that, while in fact there is a thorough and varied set of ecodesign tools available, they will not allow ecodesign to become more widespread while they remain tools for experts. We are therefore putting forward a method to carry out the integration of ecodesign in SMEs during demonstration projects implemented with the assistance of advisory centres specialised in the industrial sector of the company.
9. Ending toxic dependency: the state of IPM
Author: Feldman, Jay; Hepting, Laura
Source: Beyond Pesticides, 2007
Abstract: With increasing public awareness of pesticide hazards, widespread agreement has emerged that integrated pest management (IPM) and organic practices are preferred land and structural management tools in both (i) embracing concerns about protecting health and the environment and (ii) utilizing practices that are efficacious and cost effective. However, in the field of IPM, an approach to preventing and controlling unwanted organisms that has a history of varied definitions and policies, there are numerous perspectives, and critical disagreements, among public health and environmental advocates, regulators, and the pesticide and pest management industry. While organic agricultural practices are clearly codified in federal statute with a definition, acceptable methods and materials, and a certification and enforcement process, there is an absence of federal IPM policy that requires clear, meaningful and enforceable standards and practices for the management of state-owned public land and buildings. This report fills a critical gap in evaluating state IPM laws governing state property in the 50 states and the District of Columbia (hereafter referred to as states) with criteria for effective management benchmarks. Since the laws themselves, however, do not alone ensure the implementation of an IPM program, the assessment in this report includes interviews with state officials and environmental advocates.
State policy restricting pesticide use on state-owned and managed property serves as an important measure of public health and environmental protection, given the widespread chemical exposure associated with the management of 195 million acres of land area across the U.S., affecting virtually all residents. State policy can also influence the direction of practices used by local jurisdictions (villages, towns, cities and counties) and on private lands, setting a tone that either encourages or discourages pesticide-dependent practices. Local government policy requiring organic or IPM practices is critical in the absence of state and federal law that adequately restricts pesticide use. The evaluation in this report of state laws governing specific species management practices on state-owned and managed property supports the need for defined and effective state IPM and organic programs, codified in policy and effectively carried out.
Link: http://www.beyondpesticides.org/stateipm/stateipmreport/stateofipm-highres.pdf
10. Oakland sued over ban on plastic bags
Author: Heredia, Christopher
Source: San Francisco Chronicle, August 3, 2007
Abstract: The City of Oakland has been sued in Alameda County Superior Court over its newly adopted plastic bag ban. The suit, filed by The Coalition to Support Plastic Bag Recycling, a group whose membership includes plastic-bag manufacturers, seeks to overturn the city's ordinance on the grounds that the city failed to complete an environmental impact report before adopting its ordinance in June banning the use of nonbiodegradable plastic bags at retail outlets grossing more than $1 million a year. Oakland City Attorney's Office spokesman Alex Katz said his office would reserve comment on the lawsuit until after lawyers have reviewed it. While Oakland officials have said the city's ordinance will reduce plastic-bag litter by requiring larger retailers to provide compostable plastic bags to customers, the lawsuit states that compostable bags will foul up plastic bag recycling facilities, which are not equipped to deal with compostable material, thus wasting energy and resources.
Link: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/03/BAG2DRCPDK6.DTL
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 September 07 2007