On April 14, 2011, Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011 (S. 847) to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Lautenberg initiated similar legislation, S. 3209, in the 111th Congress. Below is a summary of key differences between Lautenberg's S. 847 and S. 3209.
TSCA/FIFRA/NTP/EPCRA EPA Announces Listening Session On IRIS Draft Toxicological Review Of Methanol: On April 18, 2011, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a 60-day public comment period and listening session on May 26, 2011, for the external review draft human health assessment entitled "Toxicological Review of Methanol (Non-Cancer): In Support of Summary Information on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS)" (EPA/635/R-11/001). 76 Fed. Reg. 21736. The...
Monday, May 9, 2011 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (EDT) Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C), B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. (BCCM), The Acta Group, L.L.C. (Acta), and The Acta Group EU, Ltd (Acta EU) are hosting a free webinar to discuss Senator Frank R. Lautenberg's (D-NJ) recently introduced bill, S. 847, the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, a bill to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This webinar will focus on S. 847; identify and discuss key differences between it and S. 3209,...
April 27, 2011
Lynn L. Bergeson, James V. Aidala, Charles M. Auer, “The Devilish Details Of TSCA Reform,” Law360, April 27, 2011.
On April 14, Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011, which is intended to modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act to require chemical companies to demonstrate the safety of industrial chemicals and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate safety based on the best available science.
On April 14, 2011, Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Chemicals Act of 2011. The bill is intended to amend and modernize the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to require chemical companies to demonstrate the safety of industrial chemicals and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate safety based on the best available science. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Charles Schumer (D-NY), and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).
On April 21, 2011, the United Kingdom’s (UK) Food Standards Agency (FSA) published a report of consumers’ views on the use of nanotechnology in food and food packaging. FSA convened a focus group in late 2010 and early 2011, and asked participants about their views on nanotechnology. According to FSA, the main findings are that: Participants’ reactions to nanotechnology and food reflected a variety of concerns. These included whether this was a necessary development,...
April 26, 2011
Scientists Investigate Behavior of Metallic Silver Nanoparticles in a Pilot Wastewater Treatment Plant
Environmental Science & Technology posted on April 5, 2011, an article entitled “Behavior of Metallic Silver Nanoparticles in a Pilot Wastewater Treatment Plant.” The abstract states: We investigated the behavior of metallic silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) in a pilot wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) fed with municipal wastewater. The treatment plant consisted of a nonaerated and an aerated tank and a secondary clarifier. The average hydraulic retention time including...
April 25, 2011
Study Assesses Exposure in Workplaces Manufacturing Nanosized Titanium Dioxide and Silver
Inhalation Toxicology has published an article entitled “Exposure assessment of workplace manufacturing nanosized TiO2 and silver,” which monitored the possible exposure to nanoparticles at workplaces that manufacture nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) and nano-silver. The abstract states: To estimate the potential exposure of workers, personal sampling, area monitoring, and real-time monitoring using a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) and dust monitor were conducted at...
The April 22, 2011, issue of Inside EPA quotes Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.'s April 18, 2011, memorandum regarding Senator Lautenberg's (D-NJ) Safe Chemicals Act of 2011.
On April 12, 2011, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) issued a statement entitled “Safety of Nano Silver in Consumer Products: Many Questions Remain Open,” which reports BfR’s conclusions from a February 2011 workshop discussing existing risks and possible options for comprehensive consumer protection from nanosilver. According to BfR, “the situation continues to be characterised by the fact that not enough secured scientific findings about the specific effects of...