May 15, 2013

Toxics Use Reduction Institute Science Advisory Board Meeting Minutes

May 15, 2013

DEP Boston, 2nd Floor - Conference Room B

12:30 PM

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

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), Robert Barter (ExxonMobil Biomedical Science), Tsedash Zewdie (DEP), Ken Lambert (MCTA), Steve Rosario (ACC), Suzi Peck (DEP), Molly Jacobs (Lowell Center for Sustainable Production)

Members not present:  Igor Linkov

New member orientation

Heather gave a brief new member orientation.

Welcome and Introductions

Carcinogen Report Presentation by Molly Jacobs

Molly Jacobs presented on the soon to be released TURI ‘Carcinogens Report’.  This report identifies carcinogens by cancer site and provides an analysis of the TURA data for those carcinogens by cancer site. Members and program staff had some questions and suggestions. A follow up suggestion was made to analyze the 74 chemicals grouped by cancer potency (high to low).

Program Updates

  • The Champions of Toxics Use Reduction event at the statehouse will be held June 12, 2013.
  • The ChemGenes Demonstration Site will be held June 6, 2013 at 1pm in Wilmington .  They will be demonstrating their solvent recovery system.
  • The OTA Report on ‘Barriers to Reducing the Use of Asthma-Related Chemicals’ is now available on their website.  This report focuses on isocyanates, formaldehyde and chlorine.  An executive summary was distributed at the meeting.
  • Phil Griffiths has taken a new position at Boston Harbor Islands Alliance – the new chair of the Administrative Council has not been announced yet. 

Methylene Chloride Policy Analysis

Heather distributed the draft policy analysis on methylene chloride.  A draft policy analysis has been presented at the Advisory Committee and the Administrative Council.  Updates will be made on the draft and a final version will be presented to both groups in late May/June. Heather reviewed the document, including the ‘State of the Science’ section which covers information the SAB reviewed to support their recommendation as well as the sections involving historical use, potentially affected sectors, and alternatives. 

Approve March Meeting Minutes

Motion:  Approve March Meeting minutes as written.

Vote: 6 in Favor, 2 Abstaining (Not at March 6, 2013 meeting)

New developments for nPB

The Board voted to recommend nPB for listing in 2009 – it was subsequently listed that year.  The Board asked the Program to bring additional information forward as it became available.  The Board was given the draft documentation for ACGIH’s Notice of Intended Change, which would lower the recommended TLV from 10ppm to 0.1 ppm.  In addition the NTP Carcinogenesis Abstract was distributed and a New York Times article on neurological effects (also mentioned by the Halogenated Solvents Industry Alliance) was posted to the LibGuide.  Program staff circulated the NTP draft monograph that indicates 1-bromopropane as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen’.  This monograph has been peer reviewed, receiving unanimous agreement on the indication.  A revised draft monograph was published yesterday (May 14, 2013) and will be reviewed at an upcoming Board of Scientific Counselors Meeting on June 25, 2013.

The new NTP documents will be added to the LibGuide.  A member asked if IARC is considering nPB.  Some questions about use were asked.  In response to a question about the EU consideration of the chemical, it was noted that 1-bromopropane is currently a candidate for the substances of very high concern (SVHC) list.  Other questions about whether other states were looking to regulate the substance were asked.  A Board member stated that they supported considering nPB for Higher Hazard Substance designation noting particular concerns about occupational exposure.  The Board would like to take up the discussion of nPB as a Higher Hazard Substance at the next meeting.  Interested parties from industry which presented scientific evidence in the past will be notified of the meeting.

CERCLA Categories: Phthalate esters

Board members invited Dr. Robert Barter from ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences to present information on phthalates.  He discussed the formation of phthalate esters from constituent alcohols (and the issue of different isomeric products based on where the methyl substitutions are occurring), use of phthalates in commerce, and several current categorization schemes being used by different organizations (EU, NICNAS, CERHR, and EPA-HPV). 

He noted that the substances with a C4-C6 backbone are potent reproductive and developmental toxins in male rats.  A Board member asked why these chain lengths were most important.  Dr. Barter noted that there is reduced testosterone synthesis in the developing rat fetus.

He was asked if any of the categorizations considered mixtures.  Pure compounds were considered for the categories.  Mixtures that have been considered have been at very high test doses.

Of the larger Phthalate Ester category that is on the TURA list (but has not been reportable by MassDEP policy) the Board has focused on ortho phthalate esters – focusing primarily on the following endpoints: Reproductive and Developmental, Endocrine, Liver.  A Board member asked about the toxicity of the metabolites.  It was noted that the monoester metabolite of ortho phthalate esters is the toxic metabolite.  One member asked how easy it is to make substitutions within the category. 

There is concern about the large number of data gaps that are likely for the meta and para phthalate esters.  Also the Board would like more information on terephthalates (aka para).  2-ethylhexanal terephthalate could be a possible surrogate.  The Program will research additional information on terephthalates.

DEP is asking the Board if there are toxicity concerns that warrant a change in policy on these chemicals.  Dr. Barter said that he had additional data to note which chemicals are not of concern.  Dr. Barter also noted that information on mode of action is available, yet information on the mechanism of action is not.  He will send additional information on the high molecular weight ortho phthalate esters and the mode of action.  Also the Board will consider at the next meeting whether to investigate phthalate esters with additional substances (e.g., bromine) on the ring.  It was also questioned whether trimellitates are feasible alternatives and whether they had similar toxicities and metabolites.

Volatile Methyl Siloxanes: D4

The D4 Canadian Board of Review document will be posted to the LibGuide.  In addition, the Siloxanes Health and Safety Panel is finalizing new studies which are projected to be completed in June. The Board will resume discussion on D4 in September. 

Next Meeting

June 27, 2013

Handouts:

New Member Orientation

Carcinogen Presentation

Methylene Chloride Policy Analysis

OTA Barriers Report Executive Summary

NTP Carcinogenesis Report Abstract

Ortho Phthalate Ester Scientific Spreadsheet

Exxon Mobil Phthalate Ester Presentation