June 28, 2012
Toxics Use Reduction Institute Science Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
June 28, 2012
DEP Boston, 2nd Floor Conference Room C
12:30 PM
Members present: Dave Williams (Chair), Larry Boise (Vice-Chair), Ken Weinberg, Martha Mittelstaedt
Others present: Mary Butow (TURI), Liz Harriman (TURI), Heather Tenney (TURI), Carol Rowan-West (DEP), John Raschko (OTA), Sean Moynihan (MCTA), Dave Wawer (MCTA), Steve Risotto (ACC), Laura Vandenberg (Tufts), Ken Blanchard (MCTA), Mark Myles ( TURI), Rachel Massey (TURI), Rich Bizzozero ( OTA), Kathryn Rodgers ( Silent Spring Institute), Suzi Peck ( DEP), Margaret Gorman ( ACC), Mike Ellenbecker (TURI)
Members not present: Igor Linkov, Amy Cannon, Hilary Hackbart, Robin Dodson
Welcome and Introductions
Members and visitors introduced themselves.
Presentation: Dr. Laura Vandenberg
It was noted that a quorum was not present for the meeting. Meeting materials were distributed and information necessary to further agenda topics was noted. Agenda items were not discussed.
Program Updates
• The recently released Asthmagen Fact Sheet was circulated.
• Priority User Segments (PrUS)– The Administrative Council meeting was held in the morning (6/28/12). The potential Perc PrUS and alternatives to a PrUS were discussed. The Program will hold meetings in August regarding changes to ERP for Perc.
• The Advisory Committee meets on July 9th.
• DEP noted that the US EPA released an IRIS profile for Perchloroethylene. The IRIS profile includes both cancer and non-cancer effects.
• Molly Jacobs is looking at all chemicals reported under TURA for site-specific cancers. Her methods to determine cancer sites as well as the site specific lists were passed around. We will invite her to come in the fall to talk about data for those cancer sites.
• Related to this, IARC monographs for the two IARC 1 chemicals not currently on the More Hazardous list (1,3 butadiene and 4,4 methylenebis 2-chloroaniline) were circulated.
Approve May Meeting Minutes
Any revisions for the minutes were requested. Minutes could not be voted on due to lack of quorum.
HFEs: Additional information on HFEs used as solvents
The information on the three HFE’s used as solvents and the four that exist in the liquid form was distributed. There are quite a few data gaps for the HFE’s in general. It was requested that if Board members saw any information that was lacking to please let TURI know so the information could be collected for next time.
Information obtained from EPA models will be incorporated into the current summary of information along with anything else found over the summer.
Questions asked in the previous meeting regarding the Sustainable Futures training/results were addressed. The responses will be sent to the Board along with a guidance document for interpreting results from the models.
CERCLA Categories: Phthalate esters
The phthalate esters category is one of the CERCLA categories on TURA list. These categories were retained for later review as part of the 2006 TURA amendments CERCLA chemical review. They have never been reportable by DEP policy. Our goal is to help define the category and make recommendations to DEP regarding potential revisions to their policy.
The initial study list is 32 phthalate esters assumed to be in commerce; 6 are individually listed already on the TURA list. ACC volunteered to help find additional information on commercially available phthalate esters. The Program asked MCTA/ACC to note if there are any other substances that should be on the list.
It was noted that there is currently a draft SNUR for diamyl phthalate. It was suggested to revisit the EPA Chemical Action Plan for phthalate esters.
Program will continue to provide information in the fall – including some data from the EPA models as well as anything else found on reproductive and developmental toxicity.
Methylene Chloride: potential higher hazard substance
The Board added this substance to the More Hazardous List in 2002. It has been noted as used in the field via phone calls to those companies reporting hazardous waste codes for chlorinated solvents that could contain TCE. There is new information available on methylene chloride. The 12th Report on Carcinogens indicates that Methylene Chloride is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. Prior to that, the IARC Monograph from 1999 indicates that methylene chloride is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).
Several documents were distributed including: IARC Monograph Summary, ACGIH TLV criteria documentation, 12th ROC documentation and ATSDR documentation on systemic effects and mechanisms of toxicity. A comparison EHS summary spreadsheet was also distributed which included data for TCE, Perc and Methylene Chloride. DEP noted that EPA IRIS information should be added to the comparison document.
MCTA asked whether or not this was actually a replacement for TCE, since their industry contact indicates that it would not be due to volatility. TURI will research this further.
nPB: new materials
New materials were circulated regarding the ACGIH proposed TLV reduction to 0.1ppm as well as their current TLV criteria documentation. Although this is not likely to be implemented in the near future it is useful information for further discussion of nPB as a candidate Higher Hazard Substance. A summary of the NTP carcinogen study was also circulated.
Next Meeting
To be scheduled for mid-September
Handouts:
HFE data sheet
IARC Monograph Summary for Methylene Chloride
ACGIH TLV criteria document for Methylene Chloride
12th ROC document for Methylene Chloride
ATSDR documentation on systemic effects and mechanisms of toxicity for Methylene Chloride
Comparison EHS summary spreadsheet for TCE, Perc and Methylene Chloride
Proposed ACGIH TLV Criteria Document for NPB
Current ACGIH TLV Criteria Document for NPB
NTP Carcinogen Document for NPB