May 14, 2014

Toxics Use Reduction Institute Science Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
May 14, 2014
DEP Boston, Conference Room A
12:30 PM

Members present: Dave Williams (Chair), Martha Mittelstaedt, Hilary Hackbart, Christine Rioux, Robin Dodson

Others present: Mary Butow (TURI), Liz Harriman (TURI), Heather Tenney (TURI), Carol Rowan-West (DEP), John Raschko (OTA), Sean Moynihan (MCTA), Colin North (ExxonMobil Biomedical Science), Tsedash Zewdie (DEP), Trisha McCarthy (ACC), Mike Ellenbecker (TURI), Steve Rosario (ACC), Susan Peck (DEP)

Members not present: Ken Weinberg, Lawrence Boise, Igor Linkov, Amy Cannon

Welcome and Introductions

Program Updates
•    The Hexavalent Chromium Compounds Fact Sheet was distributed to the Board.

•    Upcoming Events
     o    Honoring Champions of Toxics Use Reduction, StateHouse, June 10th, 11am – Formal program, Noon – Refreshments, Networking, Citations
     o    Visit TURI Calendar on www.turi.org for upcoming Community Grantee Events

•    OTA – Preliminary data available on formaldehyde for considering as a priority user segment.

•    More Hazardous Substances – The program has been working with the advisory committee to take policy considerations into account in setting priorities for the next Higher Hazard Substances (HHS).  Criteria they have voiced as important include number of users in MA, extremely acute hazards (“no second chances for employees”) and chemicals being regulated in other countries, e,g., REACH.  Nine substances from the list of 80 SAB more hazardous chemicals were discussed as possible candidates for HHS designation.  The next step will be to share a prioritized short list at the upcoming Administrative Council Meeting. The Program will send the information that was considered by the Advisory Committee to the Board.
     o    Question from the board on PCBs and PBBs: TURI will report back to clarify whether PCBs and PBBs are EPA PBTs, are on the SAB more hazardous chemical list, and are likely to still be in use

•    Methylene Chloride Implementation plan was circulated.

•    The Program circulated some examples of tools being used by the biotech/pharma industry sector to better inform the solvent selection process (e.g. GSK Solvent Selection Guide, ACS Green Chemistry Pharma Roundtable solvent selection guide).

Approve February Meeting Minutes
Vote: Approved: 4 in favor, 1 abstention.

CERCLA Categories: Phthalate esters
Since the last meeting the Program assembled comments and merged them into the current document. The phthalate ester summary document draft was distributed to the Board for discussion.  Overall parts of the document did not change significantly. Many of the summary statements still have some outstanding questions. 

DEP noted that they will take the information considered by the SAB and make a decision about what should be reportable within the phthalate ester category that is currently on the TURA chemical list.  They confirmed that the ortho- phthalate esters were reviewed and requested the Board review the meta- and para- phthalate esters as well.  Specifically, their concern was that companies may switch to meta- and para- as a substitute for the ortho- substances.  The Program will assemble a spreadsheet with general EHS information for the meta- and para- substances that were on the original list that was considered by the Board at the beginning of this process.  Other specific comments about the documents were indicated and can be found in the ‘Next steps’ section of the minutes.

Comments from the Board on specific sections of the document were indicated on a copy of the document and will be addressed by TURI for the board’s review.

Next steps:
•    Update Excel EHS sheets on meta- and para- phthalate esters
•    Move tables to the Appendix
•    Add a table (similar to the table reviewed by the Board in an earlier meeting) that helps to visualize health effects by carbon chain length
•    Re-order the sections of the document by carbon chain length
•    Add chemical structures to the sections
•    Add clarification as to why certain chemicals were selected – what were the characteristics?
•    Review the Master Excel Spreadsheets with EHS data on all of the Phthalates considered to confirm that the additional data identified from the literature review is included and add as an Appendix
•    Review comments from EM-BMS on the document
•    Search for additional information on cumulative effects of higher MW phthalates; low MW phthalates (C1-C3); other low-dose effects
•    Try to use similar language for “weak” effects in summary statements.
•    Exxon Mobil Biomedical Sciences noted they have additional resources on cumulative effects and they will provide citations for those studies
•    Add the NAS Cumulative Effects of PEs to Library Guide

Diisocyanates Category: Review of Component Substance Data
MDI is specifically listed on the SAB More Hazardous Chemical list, but is currently reportable as part of the diisocyanates category. Does entire diisocyanates category belong on the More Hazardous List?

TDI/MDI have clear respiratory effects. All are suspect due to chemistry and the presence of the isocyanate group. An industry observer noted there is likely data available on dermal sensitization and that a subset of materials are both skin and respiratory sensitizers.

Motion to Adjourn.

Next Meeting
Thursday, June 26th, 12:30PM (tentative)

Handouts (limited copies available):
•    TURI – Phthalate Ester Summary Document draft
•    TURI – Isocyanates Scientific Data (Excel Sheet)
•    TURI – U.S. EPA’s Description of Isocyanate Chemical Category and Hazard Concerns (Appendix A)
•    TURI – Selected Data provided to the Advisory Committee on More Hazardous Substances
•    TURI – NIOSH TLV-TWA Criteria document for Isocyanates