March 6, 2013

Toxics Use Reduction Institute Science Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
March 6, 2013
DEP Boston, 2nd Floor - Conference Room A
12:30 PM

Members present: Dave Williams (Chair), Larry Boise (Vice-Chair), Ken Weinberg, Martha Mittelstaedt, Robin Dodson, Hilary Hackbart

Others present: Mary Butow (TURI), Liz Harriman (TURI), Heather Tenney (TURI), Carol Rowan West (DEP), John Raschko (OTA), Sean Moynihan (MCTA), Tricia McCarthy (ACC), Wendy Koch (SEHSC), Kathy Plotzke(SEHSC), Robert Barter (ExxonMobil Biomedical Science (EMBMS)), Jennifer Forman (ExxonMobil Biomedical Science), Margaret Gorman (ACC), Sandra Baird (DEP), Michael Hutcheson (DEP)

Members not present:  Igor Linkov, Amy Cannon

Others participating by phone due to weather: Dr. Leon Earl Gray, Jr (USEPA), Dr. Paul Foster (NTP), Tracy Guerrero (SEHSC)

Welcome and Introductions

CERCLA Categories: Phthalate Esters

    Presentation: Dr. Earl Gray and Dr. Paul Foster

Dr. Foster and Dr. Gray gave this presentation via conference phone and power point due to the sequester.

Dr. Foster started the presentation noting that phthalates are ubiquitous environmental chemicals mainly used as plasticizers in PVC, yet also as solvents.  The presentation was both shown on the screen and distributed to meeting attendees.

Although they noted that most phthalates have low acute toxicity, the issue of reproductive and liver toxicity is a concern.  Diagnostic criteria applied to humans and animals are different.

Effects from phthalates with regard to testosterone production are not limited to carbon chain lengths of C4-C6; some activity was seen in C3 and C7 as well as rings.  There was also a slide that indicated additive effects with mixtures.  Some articles were recommended to the Board, which TURI will obtain.

Discussion

A question was asked about the activity of ortho phthalates vs. meta/para phthalates and it was noted that the ortho phthalate results are based on empirical data and may be due to metabolites produced.

Several questions were asked about mixtures.  Most studies have been on pure compounds, mixed compounds are more difficult.

It was stated that OECD created a High Molecular Weight category.  An attendee from EM-BMS stated that there are 9 multi-generational studies.  TURI will send the phthalate ester bibliography to EM-BMS so that we can acquire additional relevant articles for the Board.

The goal of this review was restated. Phthalate Esters is a listed category under TURA which is not reportable due to DEP policy.  DEP has asked the SAB to review the more recent scientific information for the category and recommend updates to the DEP policy if appropriate.

It was questioned if any of these were considered for the Prop 65 list and not added.  It was also questioned whether any clinical correlations between repro problems and phthalate exposure have been shown?  An article stating that quite a few associations have been shown (e.g. PE exposure and AGD in boys) was recommended and will be obtained by TURI.

Mixtures were noted as being a big concern.  A Board member indicated that they have a paper on dose addition that may be helpful to the Board.

Volatile Methyl Siloxanes

A Lib Guide was created for the Board, so they could easily access all the materials on D5 that have been collected or distributed thus far.  A master bibliography was created and distributed that indicates all the materials available to the Board for review.

There is currently an IRIS review planned for D5.  This review will likely take several years.

Heather summarized the outstanding concerns on D5 from previous meetings:

o    Uterine carcinomas
o    Dopamine agonist
o    Estrogenicity
o    PBT/BCF
o    Aquatic Tox

Motion: SAB take no action on D5.

Discussion: There is still concern about potential dopamine agonism.  D4 is of more concern.  There is continued concern about the uterine carcinomas.  Program staff noted OEHHA paper where D5 is noted to have statistically significant increase in tumors on highest dose.

A representative from SEHSC stated that D5 is not a direct dopamine agonist.  It doesn’t bind but can alter the dopamine pathway.  It does not show the same effects as bromocriptine.  The representative from SEHSC also stated that the uterine carcinomas had a slight statistically significant increase and they have expert statisticians looking at the full dataset.  Based on background levels they believe the conclusions are questionable.

TURI staff has not been able to locate any other studies looking at carcinogenicity.

Vote: 3 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 abstaining

Those who voted in favor stated that while concerns still exist, the available information was not strong enough to list.

The member voting opposed cited continued concerns with potential dopamine agonism and uterine carcinomas.

The member abstaining stated that the motion didn’t put forth a time frame for review.

Approve January Meeting Minutes

There was a motion to approve January minutes. All voted in favor.

Program Updates

The Board will be receiving an electronic version of the carcinogen report draft. Please reply to Rachel Massey with any comments.

OTA has finalized its Barriers Report on Asthma Related Chemicals (Formaldehyde, Chlorine and Chlorine compounds, Isocyanates)

There will be a 2 Day Asthma Workshop in late April coordinated by LCSP/DPH to develop roadmap for MA on Asthma.

Two additional cleaners have completed the conversion to wet cleaning under the TURI grant program.  Additionally, 6 Wet Cleaners are collaborating in a peer mentoring workgroup on a monthly basis.

The Drycleaning workbook is being re-drafted.

ChemGenes in Wilmington is a grant recipient working on a 70-90% reduction in solvent usage.

The Aerospace and Defense Supply Chain work on hexavalent chromium is going well.

The spring continuing education conference will be April 11th in Sturbridge.

On May 16th there will be an Academic Research Symposium at UML.

Sad news – DEP staff Paul Walsh passed away on March 5th.

Next Meeting

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Materials Distributed at Meeting:

Slides for the Dr. Gray and Dr. Foster Presentation

Phthalate Ester Spreadsheet

VMS Bibliography

Xu 2012: Xu L, et al., Methyl Siloxanes in Environmental Matrices around a Siloxane Production Facility, and Their Distribution and Elimination in Plasma of Exposed Population.  Environmental Science and Technology, 2012.