May 22, 2012

Toxics Use Reduction Institute Science Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
May 22, 2012
DEP Boston, 2nd Floor Conference Room A
12:30 PM

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

Others present: Mary Butow (TURI), Liz Harriman (TURI), Heather Tenney (TURI), Mike Ellenbecker (TURI), John Raschko (OTA), Sean Moynihan (MCTA), Jason Gonzalez (MCTA), Steve Rosario (ACC)

Members not present:  Igor Linkov, Amy Cannon, Veronica Vieira, Ken Weinberg

Welcome and Introductions
Members and visitors introduced themselves.

Program Updates
●    Molly Jacobs is working to produce a report on use of carcinogens in Massachusetts for TURI. The report will include analyses for individual cancer sites (e.g. chemicals associated with breast cancer or brain cancer). The report is in progress and is expected to be completed at the end of June.  In the course of this work, two IARC 1 carcinogens were discovered that have been reported but are not on the More Hazardous list. These carcinogens are 1,3-butadiene and 4,4-methylenebischloroaniline. The Board has previously stated that all IARC 1 carcinogens will be added to the More Hazardous list.

●    At the November meeting it was reported out that OTA was doing follow up with companies who had reported TCE in their waste codes. This was a result of the Council not approving the PrUS designation.  OTA has done outreach to ¾ of the 80 facilities whose hazardous waste data indicated possible Trichloroethylene (TCE) use. Eight facilities indicated they used Methylene Chloride.  Four indicated they used n Propyl Bromide (nPB). Methylene chloride is on the agenda for discussion as a potential Higher Hazard Substance.  In August 2011 NTP issued a new toxicology and carcinogenesis report on nPB.  This will be distributed to members.

●    TURI’s  librarian – Jan Hutchins- is retiring on June 1.

●    TURI’s  annual statehouse event is June 13th. All are invited.

●    EPA’s IRIS program is taking up both D4 and D5 next year.  IRIS reviews generally take at least a year. In November the SAB voted to table D5 for 6 months (and then later voted to table D4 until D5 was discussed). SEHSC is awaiting histopathology from their chronic aged animal study.  This data was supposed to be completed by 2011 – there is currently no projected date for completion.

●    The 2010 TURA Data will be released in June. Of note is the first year nPB reported data. 3 filers filed for nPB with a use of over 40,000 pounds. Over half of this is released to air.

Brief overview of recent EPA Predictive Models Training
Mary reviewed EPA predictive models from the Sustainable Futures training.  Models reviewed included EPI Suite, ECOSAR, Oncologic, and more briefly PBT Profiler, ChemSTEER, and E-FAST.

The purpose of each model was described – a longer presentation on these models can be arranged at a later date if members are interested.  Mary will report back with additional information about the models at the next meeting.

Approve March Meeting Minutes
Minutes were approved as amended.

HFE’s: Update of DEP’s Global Climate Change Policy information

Hydrofluorinated Ethers (HFE’s) were discussed at past two meetings. Concerns raised were the ability to form HF (determined to be very unlikely), PBT issues (all are far into red zone for persistence in air, most are in the red zone for persistence in sediment), and Global Warming Potential.

At our last meeting we asked Carol Rowan West to check on DEP’s Greenhouse Gas policy so we can be consistent with DEP’s goals. Carol was unable to attend this meeting but provided an answer in email which Heather read to the group.  The following points were covered:

•    Treatment of fluorinated gases other than HFCs and PFCs as GHGs is somewhat of a grey area. There are a large number of gases with varied properties and uses, and regulation is complicated because some also are regulated as ozone-depleting gases by EPA (though that doesn’t seem to be the case for HFEs).
•    Currently, some HFE emissions must be reported under US EPA’s GHG reporting program, but HFEs are not included in the definition of “greenhouse gas” that applies for permitting large stationary sources, and are not reported under MA’s GHG reporting program. 
•    The Global Warming Solutions Act does not explicitly include HFEs in the definition of greenhouse gas, though GWSA allows us to also regulate any gas that “the department may reasonably anticipate will cause or contribute to climate change.”  
•    HFE’s can be used as solvents, cleaning fluids, or refrigerants. We are currently reviewing options for reducing refrigerant emissions in MA, so it is possible that we could end up looking at HFEs as part of that process. Other emissions of HFEs are not likely to be addressed in the GHG context in MA in the near future.

A member questioned whether the HFEs are a part of the CERCLA categories. The HFE’s are being discussed as a part of TCE/PCE alternatives, but they do fit in to the HaloEthers category under CERCLA.

HFE’s have been seen in the field by program staff as feasible options and being used in practice. They are expensive and are sometimes used by defense contractors for high end applications.

The SAB noted remaining concerns with the HFE’s:

●    Lack of information
●    Potential for Greenhouse Gas formation

The SAB noted that the following data was available and is not of concern:

●    Acute/Chronic Toxicity

The SAB also noted that HFE 7100 has GWP 5-20 times less than the CFCs it was intended to replace (Wallingford).

For HFE-7100 specifically:

●    Some data gaps are noted
●    No acute or chronic toxicity identified
●    Persistence in air is of concern ( ~ 4 years)
●    No ODP concerns
●    GWP is of concern, but is less than CFC’s (GWP 390-480 over 100 year time horizon)
●    High vapor pressure
●    At extremely high temperatures, the possibility of HF degradation products is possible. If formed, they are fleeting

Motion: The Board recommends that HFE-7100 be culled from any potential HFE-category. It was noted that HFE 7100 is not a viable surrogate for the group.  1 in favor, 1 opposed, 3 abstaining (reasons cited for abstention are a desire for more information on the category as a whole). Motion does not carry.

The SAB noted the lack of information for the HFE category as a whole.  For the next meeting TURI will gather information for full EHS summaries for the 4 HFEs with noted use as solvents and also the other HFE’s that are liquids if time permits.

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. A spreadsheet with the standard chemical information on the phthalate esters was distributed prior to the meeting and additional information on reproductive toxicity was distributed at the meeting.  Members requested additional information on low dose developmental effects, in particular male reproductive effects, and neurotoxicity.  The discussion on phthalate esters will continue at the next meeting.

Methylene Chloride: new Environmental Health Summary
The SAB voted for Methylene Chloride to be added to the More Hazardous list in 2002.  There is new information available on Methylene Chloride and it was also noted as used in the field via program phone calls (specifically, phone calls to those reporting TCE waste).

Methylene chloride is a potential alternative to TCE/PCE and has significant health effects. 

The Board noted:
●    Concerns with liver, kidney, and cardiovascular
●    Very high vapor pressure
●    Reproductive effects
●    CNS effects
●    High persistence in sediment and air

The Board would like to see:
●    NTP Report 12th ROC and IARC information
●    ACGIH Criteria Document
●    Side by Side comparison of TCE, PCE, and MeCl2

Next Meeting
June 28. Dr. Laura Vandenberg will give a talk on reproductive toxicity.

Information distributed at today’s meeting:
•    Methylene Chloride Environmental Health and Safety Information Summary
•    Phthalate Esters EHS Data Spreadsheet
•    Supplemental Reproductive Toxicity Information for Phthalate Esters
•    HFEs EHS Data Spreadsheet