In November 2016, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published the following new reports in its Series on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials: Toxicokinetics of Manufactured Nanomaterials: Report from the OECD Expert Meeting: As part of its Program on the Safety of Manufactured Nanomaterials, OECD initiated a series of expert meetings to discuss the applicability of the OECD Test Guidelines to nanomaterials. The Working Party on Manufactured...
Category: Metals and Mining
October 23, 2016
ISO Standard Provides Overview of Frameworks for Developing OELs and OEBs for NOAAs
On November 21, 2016, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) released ISO/TR 18637:2016, “Nanotechnologies — Overview of available frameworks for the development of occupational exposure limits and bands for nano-objects and their aggregates and agglomerates (NOAAs).” ISO notes that occupational exposure limits (OEL) are generally substance-specific. In some case, there is insufficient data to develop an OEL, especially for substances such as nano-objects and...
July 29, 2016
Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report Features Comments By Richard E. Engler On TCE Ban
On July 29, 2016, Richard E. Engler, Senior Chemist with Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®), was quoted in the Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report article, “White House Reviewing EPA Degreaser Ban.” A ban on TCE could affect a huge number of companies, according to Richard Engler, a senior chemist at the law firm Bergeson & Campbell. “This would affect any business that removes grease from metal,” Engler told Bloomberg BNA. “That could be...
In our June 29, 2016, Clients and Friends memorandum, Brazil Moves Closer to National Chemical Inventory, we discussed Brazil's pending Industrial Chemicals Regulation (Regulação de Substâncias Químicas Industriais, or Regulação) predicting its imminent publication in the Brazilian Official Gazette, the Diário Oficial. On June 30, 2016, the Regulação was released for an approximately 45-day comment period. While generally adhering to both industry expectations for...
On April 11, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a memorandum entitled "Coverage for ZirconizationTM Under 40 CFR Part 433 (Metal Finishing ELG)," which concludes that "wastewater generated by ZirconizationTM or a process that applies a zirconium oxide finish to a metal substrate is subject to the Metal Finishing [Effluent Limitation Guidelines (ELG)]." Zirconization is the trade name for a process that produces a zirconium oxide conversion on a metal substrate....
On April 18, 2016, the Silver Nanotechnology Working Group (SNWG) submitted comments on the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health’s (NIOSH) draft NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin: Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials. The draft Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) includes a review and assessment of the currently available scientific literature on the toxicological effects of exposure to silver nanoparticles in...
On April 4, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its updated Recommended Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Cadmium -- 2016 under Section 304(a) of the Clean Water Act (CWA). 81 Fed. Reg. 19176. The updated cadmium criteria recommendations replace the criteria values that EPA last issued in 2001. The CWA directs EPA to develop, publish, and periodically revise the ambient water quality criteria for aquatic life and human health that best reflect...
March 25, 2016
Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News
? National Renewable Energy Laboratory, "2015 Survey of Non-Starch Ethanol and Renewable Hydrocarbon Biofuels Producers" ? CNN, "Greener Skies: Frenchman Prepares for History-Making Zero-Carbon Atlantic Flight" ? BASF, "From Biomass to Dispersions: for the First Time BASF Produces Binders for Interior Paints Based on The Mass Balance Process" ? BASF, "BASF and Avantium Intend to Establish Joint Venture" ? Bangkok Post, "B10m Allotted for Biomass Corn...
March 11, 2016
Weekly Roundup of Other Biobased News
? USDA, "USDA To Help Finance New Farm Waste Biorefinery In Oregon" ? The Chemical Engineer, "Metal-Free, Bio-Based Polyester Developed: First Step to Truly Sustainable Plastics" ? Innventia, "[Swedish Firm] Innventia Is Gathering its Forces For a Future Bioeconomy" ? LaboratoryTalk, "Enzyme Study Tackles Biofuel Efficiency" ? TriplePundit, "A Quest for Biofuels May also Yield Food Security" ? AZOCleantech, "Chemists One Step Closer to...
February 11, 2016
NIOSH Extends Comment Period on Draft CIB on Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials
On February 10, 2016, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) published a Federal Register notice extending the comment period on the draft NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin: Health Effects of Occupational Exposure to Silver Nanomaterials. As reported in our January 22, 2016, blog item, the draft Current Intelligence Bulletin (CIB) includes a review and assessment of the currently available scientific literature on the toxicological effects of exposure to...