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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 1
Aug. 26, 2016
Contents(click on page numbers for links)
REGULATORY UPDATE
ASIA PACIFICguide to the model Work Health and Safety
Regulations ..................................3At the APVMA its all
about the science!
...................................................................3Supreme
Court of Western Australia Rules that State Environmental Policies
Are Not Relevant Considerations when Making an Environmental Impact
Assessment
............................................................................5Thailands
Existing Chemicals Inventory and Proposed Chemicals Management
Regulations
..............................................................................................6South
Korea Issued Hazard Evaluation Results for 121 New Substances
Registered under K-REACH
....................................................................7
AMERICAOSHAs Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to
Respirable Crystalline Silica
.................................................................................................................8California
Adopts Opioid Treatment guidelines
..................................................10EAB upholds EPA
Cancellation Of Flubendiamide Registrations
...................11EPA Issues Direct Final Rule Adding To List Of
Excluded VOCs .......................11
EUROPESpecific provisions of glyphosate under the Plant
protection products Regulation have been updated
..............................................................12European
regulators put Dow DuPont deal under microscope
.....................12CEN Committee Seeks Responses To Survey On
Disposal Practices For Manufactured Nano-Objects In Waste
.............................................................13Eu
OSHA May Conduct Survey on Workplace Exposure to Carcinogens
...14
INTERNATIONALWHO And IARC To Assess Seven Major Chemicals
..............................................14
REACH UPDATEList of harmonised classifications updated
............................................................16PACT
updated with 5 new intentions for RMOA
..................................................16Restriction
dossier for N,N-Dimethylformamide submitted
............................17New CLH consultations launched
.............................................................................17
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 2
Aug. 26, 2016
ContentsJANETS CORNER
Mozart the
Worm.............................................................................................................18
HAZARD ALERTToxaphene
.........................................................................................................................19
GOSSIPQuantum computing: Mothball chemical naphthalene helps
technology work at room temperature
..................................................................24This
cheap material can purify dirty water and make it safe to drink
..........25Mineral hydrogel may usher in new class of recyclable
plastics ....................26Head lice becoming resistant to
common chemical treatments: study ......27Shape-shifting Terminator
T-1000 robot could become a reality after scientists announce
liquid metal
breakthrough........................................28E-waste: the
fine line between useful materials and toxic waste
..................29Libraries of plastic molecules could store huge
amounts of data .................31To Clean up An Oil Spill, Light
a Fire Tornado
.......................................................32Accounting
for ozone: Study first to quantify impact of oil and gas emissions
on Denvers ozone problem
...................................................................34Researchers
find unsafe levels of industrial chemicals in drinking water of 6
million Americans
......................................................................................36Fracking
air pollution study retracted
.....................................................................38Refinery
fostered weak safety, Chemical Safety Board
says.............................40Membrane reactor turns methane
into aromatics
..............................................41Solid Oxide Fuel
Cell prototype from Nissan moves toward eco-friendly transport
............................................................................................................42Self-cleaning,
anti-reflective, microorganism-resistant coatings
..................43Arsenic and the Placental Epigenome: unlocking
the Secrets of Prenatal Exposure
...........................................................................................................44Organoarsenic
Drugs over Time: The Pharmacokinetics of Roxarsone in Chicken Meat
.........................................................................................46Air
pollution tied to shorter survival with lung cancer
......................................48E-cigarette makers rush new
products to market ahead of u.S. rules .........49
TECHNICAL NOTESENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
......................................................................................52
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 3
Aug. 26, 2016
ContentsMEDICAL RESEARCH
.......................................................................................................52OCCuPATIONAL
RESEARCH
.........................................................................................53PuBLIC
HEALTH RESEARCH
..........................................................................................53
CURIOSITIESWhat Your Pee and Poo Colour Says About Your Health
...................................56Do Amish hold clue to
preventing asthma in children?
....................................58WA nurses call for sick pet
leave as they negotiate work agreement ..........59A first of its
kind study found that brain training cuts the risk of
.................61Bacteria made to turn sewage into clean water
and electricity .................62Science Finally Proves Which
Wines give the Worst Hangovers ....................64Do farts carry
germs? Well, it depends on whether you are wearing pants.
...................................................................................................................................65Novel
technology may prevent burn scars
............................................................67Brain
chemical dopamine bounces back after quitting
smoking..................68Study details possible link between Zika
and severe joint condition ..........69Sperm quality in dogs is
rapidly declining, and it could be a big warning for human
fertility
.........................................................................................71A
bar owner in the uK has built a Faraday cage to stop customers
using their phones
..........................................................................................................72A
company claims to have a machine that stops avocados going brown
.74Does Burnt Food give You Cancer?
...........................................................................75Can
Ocean Plastics Make Homes For The Poor?
...................................................76The first
asthma pill in 20 years shows massive promise in reducing symptoms
.......................................................................................................7710
Barbaric Medical Treatments That Are Still used Today
.............................83Plenty of light during daytime
reduces the effect of blue light screens on night sleep
...................................................................................................84Higher
weekly activity levels linked to lower risk of five chronic
diseasesDaily activity levels need to be several times higher than
recommended minimum
.............................................................................................85
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 4
Aug. 26, 2016
On 1 August, Safe Work Australia pub-lished an amended guide to
the model Work Health & Safety Regulations.
ASIA PACIFIC
Guide to the model Work Health and Safety
Regulations2016-08-19On 1 August, Safe Work Australia published an
amended guide to the model Work Health & Safety Regulations.
This guide provides an overview of the structure of the model Work
Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations. The guide will help readers
identify what duties or rights are contained in each Part of the
model WHS Regulations, and direct readers to other provisions of
the model WHS laws that may be relevant to those rights or duties.
This guide has been republished to reflect the current model WHS
Regulations (dated 21 March 2016). A copy of the amended guide is
available at: guide to the Model Work Health and Safety
Regulations
Safe Work Australia, 1 August 2016
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
At the APVMA its all about the science!2016-08-19The Australian
Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is Australias
regulator of agricultural and veterinary (agvet) chemicals. Every
agvet chemical for sale in Australia has been through a robust
scientific assessment to make sure it can be used safely by
farmers, veterinarians and the general community. The agency
examines scientific data to assess:
impacts on human health and safety impacts on non-target and
native plants and animals worker health and safety residues in
crops and food producing animals whether it is effective and works
as intended.What is scientific assessment?
When an application for a chemical product comes into the APVMA
look at the evidence provided by scientific studies and data and
the proposed uses. The agency examines the full range of risks by
assessing both the scientific merit and the integrity of the data
and asking whether identified risks can be managed when the
chemical is used in a product. If a product is registered for use
in Australia, this means the APVMA has scientifically assessed that
it can be used safely provided the instructions for safety and use
are followed.
Regulatory Update
http://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/sites/SWA/about/Publications/Documents/621/Guide-to-the-Model-WHS-Regulations-21March2016.PDFhttp://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 5
Aug. 26, 2016
Regulatory UpdateThe simple rule is always follow the safety and
use directions on the label to minimise exposure to the chemical
product
This approach is consistent with best practice among
international regulators and uses international scientific
standards set by bodies such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission
and the World Health Organisation.
New science
The APVMAs team of expert in-house scientists and affiliated
academics consult and collaborate with scientists in universities,
the chemical industry and innovators around the world. Over recent
years the APVMA has been a leader in developing scientific
assessment approaches for significant new areas of science, in both
agriculture and animal husbandry, including:
nanotechology RNA interference (RNAi) clustered regularly
interspaced short palindromic repeats (CrispR).New scientific
evidence
New studies, assessment reports and scientific opinions about
agvet chemical which are already on the market are generated
regularly. The APVMA analyses and evaluates all new information
based on the scientific merits before deciding on whether to take
regulatory action.
Science is safety
Because the full range of risks are considered during the
registration process human exposure is minimised provided the use
and safety directions on the label are followed. If the product
says to wear protective clothing, such as gloves and a mask, or not
to use it for food producing animals, this means that after
scientific assessment the product can be used safely provided these
instructions are followed. Not all chemicals are the same. The
safety and use instructions on every product are designed to
protect people from the risk associated with that particular
chemical product. The type of active ingredient in the product,
other chemicals in the product and the formulation or type of
productsuch as spray, powder or liquidare all considered by
scientists at the APVMA before the product is registered. The
science is in the safety directionsalways read and follow them. You
can download the factsheet here.
APVMA, 16 August 2016
http://www.apvma.gov.au
http://apvma.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/flyer-apvma-all-about-the-science.pdfhttp://www.apvma.gov.au
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 6
Aug. 26, 2016
Regulatory UpdateSupreme Court of Western Australia Rules that
State Environmental Policies Are Not Relevant Considerations when
Making an Environmental Impact Assessment2016-08-19The port City of
Fremantle, now considered by many as part of greater Metropolitan
Perth, has been home to Fremantle Port since the turn of the 19th
Century. For more than a century, 90% of Western Australias imports
and 30% of its exports have moved through the port. In 2014, during
their first budget, the Abbott Federal government allocated federal
funding supplemented by state funding to upgrade and expand Roe
Highway, in order to improve access to and from Fremantle for heavy
vehicles transporting freight. Since announcing the election
promise, the first stage of the project (known as Roe 8) has been
shrouded in controversy. The arguments opposing the project are
many and varied, spanning aboriginal heritage issues, to the
compulsory acquisition of residential land. One point of interest
for environmental lawyers, however, is the decision this July of
the Court of Appeal of Western Australia to overturn a finding that
the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)s environmental impact
assessment of the project was invalid. In December last year, the
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia found in
favour of the Save the Beeliar Wetlands environmental group, which
had sought judicial review of the EPAs assessment of the project.
His Honour found that the EPAs recommendation to the States
Environment Minister was invalid, along with his subsequent
approval because the EPA had not taken account of its own policies
at the time it made its decision and reported to the Minister. In
summary, the relevant policies provided that where the EPA
concluded that the implementation of a proposal would result in
significant residual impacts to critical environmental assets
(despite mitigation efforts), there was a presumption against
recommended approval. At the time, many viewed the decision as
providing clarity regarding how the decision-making process of the
EPA should be conducted. In particular, the application of due
regard in policy and decision-making. The decision was viewed as
reiterating the EPAs function as an independent decision maker,
standing separately to the State government. On appeal by the
State, the full bench of the Court of Appeal overturned the
original decision. The Court of Appeal instead considered that the
relevant policies were permissive relevant considerations, as
opposed to mandatory considerations. Read in the context of other
provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) (EP Act),
the
http://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/wt/releases/2014/May/budget-infra_07-2014.aspxhttp://decisions.justice.wa.gov.au/supreme/supdcsn.nsf/judgment.xsp?documentId=E96AF646F30C609A48257FF10013B74C&action=openDocumenthttp://decisions.justice.wa.gov.au/supreme/supdcsn.nsf/judgment.xsp?documentId=E96AF646F30C609A48257FF10013B74C&action=openDocumenthttp://decisions.justice.wa.gov.au/supreme/supdcsn.nsf/judgment.xsp?documentId=4DC12FEF66845A8248257F1D00095F93&action=openDocumenthttp://decisions.justice.wa.gov.au/supreme/supdcsn.nsf/judgment.xsp?documentId=E96AF646F30C609A48257FF10013B74C&action=openDocument
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 7
Aug. 26, 2016
Thailands Depart-ment of Industrial Works (DIW) has re-leased a
preliminary existing chemicals inventory
Regulatory UpdateCourt considered that amongst other reasons,
that the impugned policies were not in the category of approved
policies which was a mechanism under which they could be elevated
in the EP Act. The Court opined that those approved policies
provided sufficient certainty to stakeholders and proponents. In an
attempt to deliver on its key election promise, the State
government is reportedly pressing ahead to enter into contracts to
construct Roe 8 before the State election early next year. The Save
Beeliar Wetland group is expected to appeal the decision to the
High Court.
The National Law Review, 18 August 2016
http://www.natlawreview.com
Thailands Existing Chemicals Inventory and Proposed Chemicals
Management Regulations2016-08-19Thailands Department of Industrial
Works (DIW) has released a preliminary existing chemicals inventory
(http://www.diw.go.th/hawk/content.php?mode=eservice).
The DIW has combined the following four sources to make the
National Existing Chemicals Inventory:
Substances present in the DIW database. Hazardous substances
whose properties match that of those present in
Annex 5.6 of the Notification of Department of Industrial Works
Re: List of Hazardous Substances (No. 2), and whose production
and/or import are notified to the DIW using form Wor Or/ Or gor 20,
beginning from February B.E. 2558 (2015). Substances which are not
notified to the DIW before the cut-off date (12/31/2016) will be
considered new substances.
Hazardous substances present in the Notification of the
Department of Industrial Works Re: List of Hazardous
Substances.
Chemicals imported between 2014-2016 (obtained from the Customs
Department).
The DIW anticipates the completion of the final version of the
National Chemicals Inventory in 2017 and plans to update it every 3
years.
Thailands Proposed Existing and New Chemicals Management
Regulations:
Chemicals present in the inventory which meet the below criteria
will be prioritised for assessment:
http://www.natlawreview.comhttp://www.diw.go.th/hawk/content.php?mode=eservicehttp://www.diw.go.th/hawk/content.php?mode=eservice
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 8
Aug. 26, 2016
South Koreas National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER)
issued NIER Announcement No.2016-11 on 4 Aug 2016, making public
the results of hazard evaluation of 121 new substances registered
under K-REACH.
Regulatory Update Chemicals whose production or import volume
exceeds 10 metric tons
per annum; Carcinogenic, mutagenic and repro-toxic (CMR)
chemicals - category
1A or 1B; Persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT)
chemicals; Very persistent and very bio-accumulative (vPvB)
chemicals; Chemicals of equivalent concern or hazardous; Substances
under International ConventionsChemicals determined to be
substances of very high concern (SVHC) will require submission of
chemical risk assessment reports. grace periods will be given
according to tonnage bands. The DIW proposes 3, 5, and 8 years for
chemicals whose production/import volumes exceed 1000 metric
tons/year, 100-1000 metric tons/year and 10 but not exceeding 100
metric tons/year, respectively. In addition, the DIW would permit
companies to submit joint chemical risk assessment reports. Due to
this new requirement, the hazard type of the substances present in
the Notification of the Department of Industrial Works Re: List of
Hazardous Substances and its amendment may change. Consequently,
certain chemicals may be subjected to more stringent
production/import requirements. Chemicals not present in the
chemicals inventory will be considered new. Non-hazardous chemicals
and those which do not meet the aforementioned SVHC criteria are
qualified for simplified risk assessment report. Moreover, the DIW
proposes adding new subsections onto the safety data sheets.
Examples of such proposals include adding Specific uses under
Section 7: Handling and Storage and the inclusion of the full text
of R phrases (hazard statements) under Section 16: Other
Information.
*Readers should note that these requirements are only proposed
and may change in the future when the finalised version of the
chemicals inventory is published.
ChemAdvisor, 16 August 2016
https://www.chemadvisor.com
South Korea Issued Hazard Evaluation Results for 121 New
Substances Registered under K-REACH2016-08-19South Koreas National
Institute of Environmental Research (NIER) issued NIER Announcement
No.2016-11 on 4 Aug 2016, making public the results of hazard
evaluation of 121 new substances registered under K-REACH.
https://chemlinked.com/sites/default/files/cdn/file/20160804_121_new_substances_finally_approved.pdf
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 9
Aug. 26, 2016
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has
issued a final rule to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in Americas
workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline
silica.
Regulatory UpdateCompared to the draft list (121 new
substances), which was previously issued by the NIER Notice
No.2016-215 on 30 Jun 2016 for public comments until 20 Jul 2016,
no changes were made. In addition, two new substances previously
published as No.2015-15 and 2016-231 were deleted. Further details
are available at:
NIER Announcement No.2016-11 List of 121 registered new
substancesChemlinked, 17 August 2016
http://chemlinked.com/en/news
AMERICA
OSHAs Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable
Crystalline Silica2016-08-19The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule to curb lung cancer,
silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease
in Americas workers by limiting their exposure to respirable
crystalline silica. The rule is comprised of two standards, one for
Construction and one for general Industry and Maritime. OSHA
estimates that the rule will save over 600 lives and prevent more
than 900 new cases of silicosis each year, once its effects are
fully realised. The Final Rule is projected to provide net benefits
of about $7.7 billion, annually. About 2.3 million workers are
exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces,
including 2 million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or
grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone, and
300,000 workers in general industry operations such as brick
manufacturing, foundries, and hydraulic fracturing, also known as
fracking. Responsible employers have been protecting workers from
harmful exposure to respirable crystalline silica for years, using
widely-available equipment that controls dust with water or a
vacuum system.
Key Provisions
Reduces the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for respirable
crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air,
averaged over an 8-hour shift.
Requires employers to: use engineering controls (such as water
or ventilation) to limit worker exposure to the PEL; provide
respirators
http://ncis.nier.go.kr/ncis/LIW0602.do?b_id=00443&b_seq=37&leftordridx=3&topordridx=4&menuid=LIW&leftsubordridx=https://chemlinked.com/sites/default/files/cdn/file/20160804_121_new_substances_finally_approved.pdfhttp://chemlinked.com/en/news
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 10
Aug. 26, 2016
Regulatory Updatewhen engineering controls cannot adequately
limit exposure; limit worker access to high exposure areas; develop
a written exposure control plan, offer medical exams to highly
exposed workers, and train workers on silica risks and how to limit
exposures.
Provides medical exams to monitor highly exposed workers and
gives them information about their lung health.
Provides flexibility to help employers especially small
businesses protect workers from silica exposure.
Compliance Schedule
Both standards contained in the final rule take effect on 23
June 2016, after which industries have one to five years to comply
with most requirements, based on the following schedule:
Construction- June 23, 2017, one year after the effective date.
General Industry and Maritime 23 June 2018, two years after the
effective date. Hydraulic Fracturing - 23 June 2018, two years
after the effective
date for all provisions except Engineering Controls, which have
a compliance date of 23 June 2021.
The u.S. Department of Labor first highlighted the hazards of
respirable crystalline silica in the 1930s, after a wave of worker
deaths. The department set standards to limit worker exposure in
1971, when OSHA was created. However, the standards are outdated
and do not adequately protect workers from silica-related diseases.
Furthermore, workers are being exposed to silica in new industries
such as stone or artificial stone countertop fabrication and
hydraulic fracturing. A full review of scientific evidence,
industry consensus standards, and extensive stakeholder input
provide the basis for the final rule, which was proposed in
September 2013. The rule-making process allowed OSHA to solicit
input in various forms for nearly a full year. The agency held 14
days of public hearings, during which more than 200 stakeholders
presented testimony, and accepted over 2,000 comments, amounting to
about 34,000 pages of material. In response to this extensive
public engagement, OSHA made substantial changes, including
enhanced employer flexibility in choosing how to reduce levels of
respirable crystalline silica, while maintaining or improving
worker protection. OSHA looks forward to working with employers to
ensure that all workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica
realise the benefits of this final rule. Please check back for
frequent updates on compliance assistance materials and events, and
learn about OSHAs on-site consulting services for small business.
OSHA approved
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/smallbusiness/consult.html
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 11
Aug. 26, 2016
The Department of Industry Relations Office of Administra-tive
Law approved the final version of the Medical Treatment Utilisation
Schedule regulations that updates the Chronic Pain Medical
Treat-ment Guidelines and adopts Opioids Treatment Guidelines.
Regulatory UpdateState Plans have six months to adopt standards
that are at least as effective as federal OSHA standards.
Establishments in states that operate their own safety and health
plans should check with their State Plan for the implementation
date of the new standards.
u.S OSHA, August 2016
http://www.osha.gov
California Adopts Opioid Treatment
Guidelines2016-08-19California Department of Industrial Relations
Office of Administrative Law has approved the final version of the
Medical Treatment utilisation Schedule (MTuS) regulations that
updates the Chronic Pain Medical Treatment guidelines and adopts
Opioids Treatment guidelines, DIR announced 10 August. With many
national reports of rising opioid misuse in recent years, DWC has
proposed issuing guidelines and began the process with a forum for
public comment in 2014. The guidelines that have been added to the
MTuS provide best practices in appropriately treating injured
workers and safely using these medications to manage pain. We
welcome this update and addition to the MTuS. The information in
these guidelines should aid in the provision of safer and more
effective care for Californias injured workers, said Division of
Workers Compensation (DWC) Executive Medical Director Dr. Raymond
Meister. The changes to the Chronic Pain Medical Treatment
guidelines are in section 9792.24.2, the Opioids Treatment
guidelines are found in section 9792.24.4, and the clarifying
changes to the meaning of chronic pain are in section 9792.23(b)(1)
of the California Code of Regulations. The MTuS regulations went
into effect on July 28, 2016, and apply to any treatment requests
made on or after 29 July 2016. These guidelines are an important
step toward improving appropriate and safe care for workers,
explained Christine Baker, director of DIR. DWC Acting
Administrative Director george Parisotto said the division will
move forward shortly to initiate the process to update all of the
current MTuS chapters. This process will include new chapters for
chronic pain and opioids. Regardless, the new Chronic Pain Medical
Treatment guidelines and Opioids Treatment guidelines should be
consulted and relied upon when making treatment requests and
determining the medical necessity of such requests. The final
regulations are available here.
Occupational Health & Safety News, 17 August 2016
http://www.ohsonline.com
https://www.osha.gov/dcsp/osp/index.htmlhttp://www.osha.govhttps://www.dir.ca.gov/dwc/DWCPropRegs/MTUS-Opioids-ChronicPain/MTUS-Opioids-ChronicPain.htmhttp://www.ohsonline.com
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 12
Aug. 26, 2016
On 29 July, 2016 the Environmental Appeals Board issued a Final
Deci-sion and Order
Regulatory UpdateEAB Upholds EPA Cancellation Of Flubendiamide
Registrations2016-08-19On 29 July, 2016, the Environmental Appeals
Board (EAB) issued its Final Decision and Order (Order)upholding
the ALJ Initial Decision and an earlier order denying BCS/NAIs
Motion for Accelerated Decision that held that EPA was authorised
to cancel the conditional flubendiamide registrations under FIFRA
Section 6(e) and did not need to provide BCS/NAI the full Section
6(b) cancellation process. The Board also upheld EPAs determination
prohibiting BCS/NAI from the continued sale, distribution, and use
of existing stocks of flubendiamide products, but found that EPAs
determination to prohibit the continued sale and distribution of
existing stocks of flubendiamide end-use products by distributors
and retailers other than BCS/NAI was not supported by the
record.
The National Law Review, 15 August 2016
http://www.natlawreview.com
EPA Issues Direct Final Rule Adding To List Of Excluded
VOCs2016-08-19On 1 August 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) issued a direct final rule revising the definition of
volatile organic compound (VOC) under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and
adding 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy) ethane to the
list of compounds excluded from the definition of VOCs. 81 Fed.
Reg. 50330. EPA has concluded that the compound makes a negligible
contribution to tropospheric ozone (03) and that there is a low
likelihood of risk to human health or the environment. The rule is
effective on 30 September 2016, unless EPA receives adverse comment
by 31 August 2016. In addition, EPA published a proposed rule on
the same day proposing to revise the definition of VOC as noted
above. 81 Fed. Reg. 50408. Comment is due 31 August 2016.
The National Law Review, 15 August 2016
http://www.natlawreview.com
https://yosemite.epa.gov/oa/EAB_Web_Docket.nsf/FIFRA~Decisions/11EA0E449AD2E03B85257FFF006CFE1B/$File/Final%20Order%20and%20Decision....pdfhttps://yosemite.epa.gov/oa/EAB_Web_Docket.nsf/FIFRA~Decisions/11EA0E449AD2E03B85257FFF006CFE1B/$File/Final%20Order%20and%20Decision....pdfhttps://yosemite.epa.gov/oarm/ALJ/ALJ_Web_Docket.nsf/Filings-and-Attachments/37333E1D94B6A2C685257FC6004D1E4F/$File/22968220.pdfhttps://yosemite.epa.gov/oarm/ALJ/ALJ_Web_Docket.nsf/Filings-and-Attachments/8AAAC8A4529F08CE85257FA0007F187A/$File/2016-04-25%20-%20bayer%20-%20order%20on%20petitioner%27s%20motion%20for%20accelerated%20decision.pdfhttp://www.natlawreview.comhttp://www.natlawreview.com
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 13
Aug. 26, 2016
The specific provisions relating to conditions of approval of
the active substance Glyphosate have been updated.
Regulatory UpdateEUROPE
Specific provisions of Glyphosate under the Plant protection
products Regulation have been updated2016-08-19The specific
provisions relating to conditions of approval of the active
substance, glyphosate [CAS# 1071-83-6], under the Plant protection
products Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 have been updated as per
Commission Implementing Regulation (Eu) 2016/1313 of 1 August 2016.
On 30 October 2015, the European Food Safety Authority communicated
to the Eu Commission its statement on the toxicological assessment
of POE-tallowamine [CAS# 61791-26-2], a substance frequently used
as a co-formulant in plant protection products containing
glyphosate. It concluded that compared to glyphosate, a significant
toxicity of POE-tallowamine was observed on all endpoints
investigated. It was considered that a likely explanation is
because the toxicity is mostly driven by the POE-tallowamine
component of the formulation. In the light of current scientific
and technical knowledge, the Eu Commission considers it appropriate
to amend the conditions of use of the active substance in
particular by excluding the co-formulant POE-tallowamine from the
use in plant protection products containing glyphosate. As a
result, this substance has now been updated in the list of approved
active substances (the Annex to Commission Implementing Regulation
(Eu) No. 540/2011).
Chemtrac, 16 August 2016
https://www.chemtracglobal.com/news
European regulators put Dow DuPont deal under
microscope2016-08-19The European Commission is launching an
in-depth antitrust review of the $130 billion merger between Dow
Chemical and DuPont. The regulators say that the merger will join
business in marketsagricultural chemicals and petrochemicalswhich
are already concentrated in a few competitors. The ECs concerns lie
primarily in the combination of Dows and DuPonts operations in
seeds and crop protection chemicals. The two firms would together
have $16 billion in annual sales, making DowDuPont the largest firm
in the sector, ahead of current leader Monsanto. The EC will look
into overlaps between the two companies in herbicides and
insecticides, especially insecticides that work against chewing
insects. The
https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID008973http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32016R1313&from=ENhttps://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID063082http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX:32011R0540
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 14
Aug. 26, 2016
Under EC funding, the European Committee for Standardisation
Technical Committee (CEN/TC) 352 -- Nano-technologies is developing
guidelines relating to the safe waste management and disposal of
delib-erately manufactured nano-objects.
Regulatory Updatebody will also investigate the two firms
businesses in nematicides, used against nematodes, and fungicides.
The regulators have a broader worry that the merger will have a
deleterious effect on agricultural innovation by eliminating a firm
able to develop new active crop protection ingredients. The EC says
DowDuPont might not be as inclined to license new seed technologies
to third parties as Dow and DuPont each were on their own. The
livelihood of farmers depends on access to seeds and crop
protection at competitive prices, says Commissioner Margrethe
Vestager. We need to make sure that the proposed merger does not
lead to higher prices or less innovation for these products. In
addition to the scrutiny over agricultural chemicals, the EC says
it will also look at specialty polyolefins used in packaging and
adhesive applications. Both Dow and DuPont have leading businesses
in these areas. Dow and DuPont have already tried to address some
of the ECs issues. However, the Commission considered these
commitments insufficient to clearly dismiss its serious doubts, the
EC said. In a joint statement, Dow and DuPont promise they will
continue to work constructively with the Commission to address
their concerns and to obtain clearance for the merger. The
companies say they are confident they will win merger clearance.
The EC has until 20 December to complete its review of the deal.
Dow and DuPont shareholders overwhelmingly approved the deal last
month. The Dow and DuPont deal may face obstacles across the
Atlantic as well. In June, Iowa Senator Chuck grassley (R) wrote to
the u.S. Department of Justice, asking it to closely scrutinise the
deal. Like the EC, he voiced reservations about the deals effect on
competition in crop protection chemicals and seeds. The EC says it
is cooperating with DOJ as well as with Brazilian and Canadian
regulators in its perusal of the transaction. Regulators both in
the u.S. and European are contending with a wave of consolidation
in agricultural chemicals. In a deal expected to be approved by the
end of this year, ChemChina is buying Syngenta for $43 billion.
Bayer has made an unsolicited $65 billion bid for Monsanto, which
is reportedly in talks to purchase BASFs agricultural chemicals
business.
Chemical & Engineering News, 11 August 2016
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news
CEN Committee Seeks Responses To Survey On Disposal Practices
For Manufactured Nano-Objects In Waste2016-08-19under EC funding,
the European Committee for Standardisation Technical Committee
(CEN/TC) 352 -- Nanotechnologies is developing guidelines
http://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i30/Agricultural-chemical-deals-ripen.htmlhttp://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i30/Agricultural-chemical-deals-ripen.htmlhttp://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i25/Senator-scrutinizes-DowDuPont-merger.htmlhttp://cen.acs.org/articles/94/i25/Senator-scrutinizes-DowDuPont-merger.htmlhttp://pubs.acs.org/cen/news
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 15
Aug. 26, 2016
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU OSHA)
announced that it is commissioning a study to assess the
feasibility of designing a computer-assisted phone survey
incorporating automated expert assessment such as AWES in Europe in
order to estimate the prevalence of oc-cupational exposure to
carcinogens.
Regulatory Updaterelating to the safe waste management and
disposal of deliberately manufactured nano-objects. The Technical
Committee seeks responses from companies manufacturing or
processing manufactured nano-objects by 5 September 2016, to an
online questionnaire relating to current disposal practices for
manufactured nano-objects in waste. The guidelines are intended to
provide guidance for all waste management activities from the
manufacturing and processing of manufactured nano-objects. The TC
has a separate online questionnaire for waste disposal
companies.
The National Law Review, 15 August 2016
http://www.natlawreview.com
EU OSHA May Conduct Survey on Workplace Exposure to
Carcinogens2016-08-19The European Agency for Safety and Health at
Work (Eu OSHA) announced that it is commissioning a study to assess
the feasibility of designing a computer-assisted phone survey
incorporating automated expert assessment such as AWES in Europe in
order to estimate the prevalence of occupational exposure to
carcinogens. The study will also make recommendations on survey
methodology and implementation; the final objective is to identify
to what extent a worker-survey based on an electronic expert module
could provide useful information on workplace exposures to
carcinogens in one or more European countries. The Bilbao-based
agency is accepting proposals to do the study, with a submission
deadline of 23 September 2016. The total estimated value of the
project is 100,000 euros. Exposure to carcinogens and work-related
cancer: A review of assessment methods, a 2014 Eu OSHA report, is
available here.
Occupational Health & Safety News, 8 August 2016
http://www.ohsonline.com
INTERNATIONAL
WHO And IARC To Assess Seven Major Chemicals2016-08-19On 1
August 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) announced it
would
https://www.snapsurveys.com/wh/s.asp?k=146547846900https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/nanoktn/article-view/-/blogs/disposal-practice-for-manufactured-nano-objects-in-wastehttp://www.natlawreview.comhttp://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/intheworkplace/in-the-workplace-landinghttps://osha.europa.eu/en/tools-and-publications/publications/reports/report-soar-work-related-cancerhttp://www.ohsonline.com
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 16
Aug. 26, 2016
Regulatory Updatereview the potential for seven chemicals in
food and consumer products to cause cancer. These chemicals
are:
1-tert-butoxypropan-2-ol (Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) No.
136579-67-4);
-myrcene (CAS No. 123-35-3); furfuryl alcohol (CAS No. 98-00-0);
melamine (CAS No. 108-78-1); pyridine (CAS No. 110-86-1);
tetrahydrofuran (CAS No. 109-99-9); and vinylidene chloride (CAS
No. 75-35-4).Organisations that wish to observe the Panels 6-13
June 2017, deliberations should request observer status by 15
February 2017. The agency will accept relevant data through 8 May
2017. BASF Corp., the Dow Chemical Co., DuPont, Koch Industries
Inc., and Momentive Performance Materials Holdings LLC were among
the u.S. manufacturers of the chemicals in 2012, the most recent
year for which EPA has data. IARC will evaluate whether these seven
chemicals may cause cancer. IARC requests nominations of scientists
as expert panel members by 12 October 2016. The list of chemicals
IARC will evaluate at Meeting 119 and other information is
available online.
The National Law Review, 15 August 2016
http://www.natlawreview.com
http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Meetings/index.phphttp://www.natlawreview.com
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 17
Aug. 26, 2016
The European Com-mission has recently amended the
Clas-sification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, updating
the list of substances with a harmonised classification.
List of harmonised classifications updated2016-08-19The European
Commission has recently amended the Classification, Labelling and
Packaging (CLP) Regulation, updating the list of substances with a
harmonised classification. Companies have to apply the revised
classifications for the safe use of these chemicals by 1 March 2018
at the latest. Further information is available at: CLP
Legislation
ECHA Weekly, 17 August 2016
http://echa.europa.eu
PACT updated with 5 new intentions for RMOA2016-08-19On 4 August
2016, the European Chemicals Agencys (ECHA) Public Activities
Coordination Tool (PACT) was updated with the following new
intentions for Risk Management Option Analysis (RMOA):
Amylase, -[CAS# 9000-90-2] Reaction mass of tris(2-chloropropyl)
phosphate and tris(2-chloro-
1-methylethyl) phosphate and Phosphoric acid,
bis(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) 2-chloropropyl ester and Phosphoric
acid, 2-chloro-1-methylethyl bis(2-chloropropyl) ester [EC#
911-815-4]
Tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) phosphate [CAS# 13674-84-5]
Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate [CAS# 115-96-8]
Tris[2-chloro-1-(chloromethyl)ethyl] phosphate [CAS#
13674-87-8]This update brought the number of PACT RMOA and hazard
assessment substances to 339. ECHAs website gives advanced notice
on the substances being considered by authorities for regulatory
risk management, together with the routes that are being
considered, for example Harmonised Classification and Labelling
(CLP), Authorisation or Restriction. The aim of the advance notice
is to increase the predictability and transparency of the process
by which substances are considered for regulatory risk management
action. The PACT lists the substances for which a RMOA or an
informal hazard assessment for PBT/vPvB (persistent,
bioaccumulative and toxic/very persistent and very bioaccumulative)
properties or endocrine disruptor properties is either under
development or has been completed since the implementation of the
SVHC Roadmap commenced in February 2013. RMOAs, hazard assessments
and their
REACH Update
http://europeanchemicalsagency.musvc1.net/e/t?q=8%3dPaCb%266%3dd%26v%3dVTbE%26J%3dKZGcP%26S%3dpODN1_Mk1X_Xu_PYxj_Zn_Mk1X_WzCkCu.C3M9Ni.0E_PYxj_ZnMyE3GuRqJ8Q_zvmx_0AwJx_Mk1X_WzJmB3Qt6D6u9iGwI_Byau_LD_zvmx_AA09v06_PYxj_alGyEiGDC6O_Byau_Lat019tOyV2%269%3d7S1QwY.v0Dhttp://echa.europa.euhttps://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID010311https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID004865https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID004865https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID004865https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID004865https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID001443https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID000049https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID002921http://echa.europa.eu/en/addressing-chemicals-of-concern/substances-of-potential-concern/pacthttp://echa.europa.eu/en/addressing-chemicals-of-concern/substances-of-potential-concern/pact
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 18
Aug. 26, 2016
Italy has submitted a proposal to restrict
N,N-Dimethylfor-mamide (DMF) as a substance on its own or in
mixtures.
REACH Updateconclusions are compiled on the basis of available
information and may change in the light of new information or
further assessment
Chemtrac, 5 August 2016
https://www.chemtracglobal.com/news
Restriction dossier for N,N-Dimethylformamide
submitted2016-08-19Italy has submitted a proposal to restrict
N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) as a substance on its own or in
mixtures. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published the
dossier on its website and ECHAs committees will perform a
conformity check on the dossier to be finalised at the September
plenary sessions of RAC and SEAC. The six-month public consultation
on the dossier is expected to start in mid-September 2016 if the
dossier passes conformity.
ECHA Weekly, 17 August 2016
http://echa.europa.eu
New CLH consultations launched2016-08-19On 16 August 2016, the
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) commenced a 45-day public
commenting period on the Harmonised Classification and Labelling
(CLH) proposals for a number of new substances. The substances are
as follows:
Diisohexyl phthalate [CAS# 71850-09-4] Nickel sulfide [CAS#
11113-75-0] Nickel (II) sulfide [CAS# 16812-54-7] Millerite [CAS#
1314-04-1] Phenyl bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phosphine oxide [CAS#
162881-26-
7]The deadline for submitting comments is 30 September 2016.
Chemtrac, 17 August 2016
https://www.chemtracglobal.com/news
http://echa.europa.euhttps://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID082474https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID002842https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID000122https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID007680https://hub.chemtracglobal.com/r/ID008116http://echa.europa.eu/web/guest/harmonised-classification-and-labelling-consultation
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 19
Aug. 26, 2016
Mozart the Worm2016-08-19
Janets Corner
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 20
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Toxaphene (also known as chlori-nated camphene) is a mixture of
approximately 200 organic compounds, formed by the chlori-nation of
camphene (C10H16) to an overall chlorine content of 67-69 % by
weight.
Toxaphene2013-11-13Toxaphene (also known as chlorinated
camphene) is a mixture of approximately 200 organic compounds,
formed by the chlorination of camphene (C10H16) to an overall
chlorine content of 67-69 % by weight. The bulk of the compounds
(mostly chlorobornanes, chlorocamphenes, and other bicyclic
chloroorganic compounds) found in Toxaphene have chemical formulas
ranging from C10H11Cl5 to C10H6Cl12, with a mean formula of
C10H10Cl8. The formula weights of these compounds range from 308 to
551 grams/mole; the theoretical mean formula has a value of 414
grams/mole. Toxaphene is usually seen as a yellow to amber waxy
solid, but may occur as a gas. It has a piney odour and is volatile
enough to be transported for long distances through the atmosphere.
[1,2]
USES [4]
Toxaphene was used as a nonsystemic stomach and contact
insecticide from the late 1940s until 1982 (peaking in 1975), when
the EPA cancelled all uses of it as a pesticide or pesticide
ingredient. It was used mainly on cotton, but also on flowers
because it was persistent and relatively nontoxic to bees.
Toxaphene was used to control insects on cotton, corn, fruit,
vegetables, and small grains as well as to protect livestock from
such pests as lice, fleas, ticks, mange, and scab mites. up through
the early 1970s, Toxaphene, often mixed with rotenone, was used
widely in lakes and rivers to eradicate fish that were considered a
detriment to sport fishing. This occurred most often in Canada and
the Northern united States. Its use as a pesticide was cancelled in
1982, all uses were banned in 1990, and existing stocks were not to
be sold in the united States after 1 March 1990. It is currently
used only for the following:
Scabies control in cattle (as a dip) Insect control for
pineapples in Puerto Rico and for bananas in the
Virgin Islands Emergency treatment of cotton, corn, and small
grains Toxaphene-like pesticides are still produced and used in
other
countries including in India, parts of Eastern Europe, Latin
America, and Africa.
Hazard Alert
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 21
Aug. 26, 2016
Hazard AlertIN THE ENVIRONMENT [2]
When released to the environment, Toxaphene can enter the air,
the soil, and water. It does not dissolve well in water and
evaporates easily. Toxaphene is more likely found in air, soil, and
sediment at the bottom of lakes or streams, than in surface water.
It can stay in the environment for a long time because it breaks
down very slowly. Toxaphene can be carried long distances in the
air and accumulates in fatty tissues of fish and mammals.
SOURCES & ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
Sources of Exposure [2]
People may be exposed to Toxaphene if they live near a location
with heavy contamination, such as a hazardous waste site. The
exposure may occur at higher levels through breathing contaminated
air or through direct skin contact with contaminated soil or water.
In addition, people who consume large quantities of fish,
shellfish, or wild game animals from areas contaminated with
Toxaphene may have higher exposure to this substance since these
animals tend to accumulate Toxaphene in fatty tissues. Individuals
may be exposed to Toxaphene through drinking water contaminated
with Toxaphene runoff from contaminated soils.
Routes of Exposure [3]
Inhalation There is some potential for inhalation exposure among
populations living near waste sites that contain Toxaphene and its
degradation products.
Oral Potential routes of exposure are via consumption of food
sources (e.g.,fish and aquatic mammals) that contain Toxaphene
residues, or via Toxaphene-contaminated drinking water.
HEALTH EFFECTS [5]
Acute Effects
Acute oral exposure to Toxaphene in humans results in central
nervous system (CNS) stimulation, with the major effect being
convulsive seizures. The dose necessary to induce nonfatal
convulsions in humans is approximately 10 milligrams per kilogram
body weight per day (mg/kg/day). No studies are available on the
effects of acute inhalation exposure to Toxaphene in humans or
animals. Animal studies have reported effects on the liver, kidney,
and CNS from acute oral exposure to Toxaphene.
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 22
Aug. 26, 2016
Hazard AlertChronic Effects
Chronic inhalation exposure to Toxaphene in humans has been
reported to cause reversible respiratory toxicity. In animals,
chronic oral exposure to Toxaphene has resulted in effects on the
liver (induction of microsomal enzymes and histological changes in
liver cells), kidney, spleen, adrenal and thyroid glands, CNS, and
immune system (immunosuppressive effects). EPA has not established
a Reference Concentration (RfC) or a Reference Dose (RfD) for
Toxaphene. ATSDR has calculated an oral intermediate minimal risk
level (MRL) of 0.001 mg/kg/d based on no adverse liver effects in
rats.
Reproductive/Developmental Effects
No information is available on the developmental or reproductive
effects of Toxaphene in humans following inhalation or oral
exposure. Animal studies have reported developmental effects,
including behavioural effects and immunosuppression, in the
offspring of rats exposed orally to Toxaphene. Several studies have
reported no reproductive effects from oral exposure to Toxaphene in
animals.
Cancer Risk
Several human studies examined the incidence of cancer
associated with inhalation exposure to Toxaphene. However, these
studies were inconclusive due to lack of information on exposure
levels and concurrent exposure to other pesticides. A study by the
National Toxicology Program (NTP) reported an increase in liver
tumours in male and female mice and an increase in thyroid tumours
in male and female rats when fed Toxaphene in the diet. EPA
considers Toxaphene to be a probable human carcinogen
(cancer-causing agent) and has classified it as a group B2
carcinogen.
SAFETY [6]
First Aid Measures
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. Skin Contact: Flush with water.
Eye Contact: Immediately flush with water for a minimum of 15
minutes. Ingestion: Methanol may be fatal or cause blindness.
Seek immediate
medical attention.
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 23
Aug. 26, 2016
Hazard Alert Note to Physician: Effects may be delayed. Ethanol
may inhibit
methanol metabolism. After following first aid measures, seek
medical attention.
Fire Fighting Measures
Flammable properties: flammable liquid. Vapour may travel
considerable distance to source of ignition and flash back.
Extinguishing media: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide or appropriate
foam.
unique aspects contributing to a fire: Methanol burns with a
clear, almost invisible flame.
Note: As in any fire, wear self-contained breathing apparatus,
and full protective gear.
Storage & Handling
Keep container tightly closed. Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Store at 2-6C. Avoid sources of ignition. Handle in accordance with
good laboratory practices. This product is
intended for use only by people trained in the safety and
handling of chemicals and laboratory preparations.
Exposure Controls/Personal Protection
Handle in accordance with good laboratory practices. Respiratory
Protection: Not normally needed. If exposure limits are
exceeded, use approved/certified respirator. Eye Protection:
Splash goggles. Skin Protection: Neoprene or other chemical
resistant gloves.
Disposable nitriles are acceptable for light intermittent
exposure. Engineering Controls: Work in a fume hood or use general
or other
local exhaust ventilation to meet Exposure Limits.
REGULATION [7]
United States
OSHA: The Occupational Safety & Health Administration has
set the following Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for
Toxaphene:
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 24
Aug. 26, 2016
Hazard Alert general Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-1 Table -- 0.5
mg/m3 TWA; Skin Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A --
0.5 mg/m3 TWA;
Skin Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 0.5 mg/m3
TWA; SkinACgIH: The American Conference of governmental Industrial
Hygienists has set a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for Toxaphene of
0.5 mg/m3 TWA; 1 mg/m3 STEL; Skin; Appendix A3 - Confirmed Animal
Carcinogen with unknown Relevance to Humans
NIOSH: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
has identified Toxaphene as a Potential Occupational Carcinogen
Australia
Safe Work Australia: Safe Work Australia has set an average
8-hour time weighted concentration for toxaphene of 0.5 mg/m3 and a
15-minute short term exposure limit of 1 mg/m3.
REFERECES
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxaphene2.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts94.pdf3.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-94.pdf4.
http://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Toxaphene5.
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/toxaphen.html6.
http://www.eraqc.com/DesktopModules/ERAMSDS/ViewPDF.
aspx?id=1edf6e54-b4fa-47f8-9073-b9c3ed1fc2447.
https://www.osha.gov/dts/chemicalsampling/data/CH_226300.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxaphenehttp://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts94.pdfhttp://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxguides/toxguide-94.pdfhttp://toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Toxaphenehttp://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/toxaphen.htmlhttp://www.eraqc.com/DesktopModules/ERAMSDS/ViewPDF.aspx?id=1edf6e54-b4fa-47f8-9073-b9c3ed1fc244http://www.eraqc.com/DesktopModules/ERAMSDS/ViewPDF.aspx?id=1edf6e54-b4fa-47f8-9073-b9c3ed1fc244
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 25
Aug. 26, 2016
The chemical in the mothballs protecting your winter coats in
the wardrobe could hold the key to the future of quantum
computing.
Quantum computing: Mothball chemical naphthalene helps
technology work at room temperature2016-08-10An international team,
co-led by Sydney university researcher, Dr Mohammad Choucair, used
naphthalene as the starting point to create a new carbon-based
material that enables quantum computers to work at room
temperature. Working at room temperature has long been considered
the Holy grail of quantum computing, which at present mainly
operates at the cryogenic temperatures near absolute zero, or about
-273 degrees Celsius. Dr Choucair said the breakthrough, reported
in the journal Nature Communications, opened pathways for quantum
computing to flow into everyday commercial use. He said while
researchers had been able to achieve certain aspects of quantum
computing at higher temperatures, there had always been problems
created by the materials used. Trying to get that real middle
ground where you can actually use it at room temperature where its
practical, its feasible and its scalable where we can start to
consider its use commercially has been a bit of a problem goal
amongst researchers, he said. It is not absolutely necessary that a
quantum computer is built at room temperature. But for there to be
a practical application for any kind of quantum processing device,
we would need to use it under normal conditions. He said the new
material, which was made by burning the naphthalene, had not only
solved the problem of temperature in quantum computing. It also
addressed other issues such as the need for a material with
conductivity and the ability to integrate into silicon. What we
have done is made quantum computing more accessible by reducing the
technological barriers to entering the field by making a material
that is accessible to everyone, Dr Choucair said. He said this
would allow more researchers to work in the field and help increase
advances in the science. Some types of quantum computers rely on
the spin of conducting electrons to carry information through
material. So it is important to make sure the spin lasts long
enough to process information, Dr Choucair said. In current models
the electron spin lifetime has been extended by cooling a very
ordered crystal structure to temperatures near absolute zero to
stop any vibration between atoms. using the new material, the team
was able to extend the spin lifetime of conducting electrons to 175
nanoseconds at room temperature 100 times longer than achieved at
room temperature than by any other conducting material such as
graphene. The key to the new material he and his colleagues in
Switzerland and germany had developed was its nano-sized spherical
and disordered structure, which Dr Choucair likened to layering in
a badly assembled onion. This
Gossip
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Aug. 26, 2016
Biofoam sheets based on graphene can be laid on top of dirty or
salty bodies of water to purify them and make the water safe to
drink, scientists in the United States have discovered.
Gossippromoted a greater number of conduction electrons and
allowed for the spatial confinement of these electrons for a long
enough period of time to demonstrate quantum manipulation at room
temperature. The team is now working on building a scalable quantum
computer using the new carbon-based material. Dr Choucair said the
carbon nanospheres could be used in other fields including
nanomedicine and environmental science. The really neat thing is
they are metallic-like ... so these little spheres behave
electronically like metallic balls but are made from carbon, he
said. We can start to think of using these little carbon balls
where traditionally we have used metals.
ABC Science News, 18 July 2016
http://www.abc.net.au/news/
This cheap material can purify dirty water and make it safe to
drink2016-08-10Biofoam sheets based on graphene can be laid on top
of dirty or salty bodies of water to purify them and make the water
safe to drink, scientists in the united States have discovered. The
process the latest awesome example of what wonder material graphene
can do has huge potential as a cheap, electricity-free water
purification method for developing nations. These dual-layer
biofoam sheets work by drawing up water from underneath and then
causing it to evaporate in the uppermost layer, releasing fresh
water as condensation on the top and leaving particles and salts
stuck in the foam. The process is extremely simple... the entire
thing is produced in one shot, said one of the researchers,
Srikanth Singamaneni from Washington university in St. Louis. We
hope that for countries where there is ample sunlight, such as
India, youll be able to take some dirty water, evaporate it using
our material, and collect fresh water. The graphene is present in
the top layer in the form of graphene oxide. The properties of the
material on this layer mean heat from the Sun is trapped and doesnt
leak to the layer or water below, maximising the efficiency of the
whole process. The lower layer, made from an organic compound
called pristine cellulose and produced by cultured bacteria, is
responsible for drawing up the water, and both sections of the
biofoam are carefully balanced to complement each other. The
process used to make these sheets is also of special interest: as
bacteria is cultured to form cellulose, graphene oxide flakes are
added for half of the process, creating the uppermost layer. The
researchers liken it to the way an oyster makes a pearl. The
biofoam produced at the end is light and the overall process
http://www.abc.net.au/news/
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Copyright Chemwatch 2016 27
Aug. 26, 2016
Scientists in Germany and China may have found a solution to the
burgeoning problem of plastic pollution and recy-cling. The team
has made a mouldable hydrogel that adopts a transparent, rigid
shape when dried and can be recycled after immersing it in
water.
Gossipisnt expensive, making it suitable for remote and rural
locations without access to alternative water purification systems.
Both materials going into this are highly scalable, Singamaneni
said. So one can imagine making huge sheets of the biofoam. Its not
the only project in development to harness the power of the Sun to
create a portable filtering system. Last year a team from MIT won a
prestigious prize for creating a solar-powered system that could be
moved around on a trailer. In that case, photovoltaic panels were
used to charge up a cache of batteries and power an electrodialysis
machine whereas the biofoam sheets developed by the Washington
university team need no electricity at all. Meanwhile, a process
recently developed in Egypt also harnesses the evaporation cycle to
clean up salty or dirty water. A desalination technique known as
pervaporation was used by researchers at Alexandria university,
whereby synthetic membranes trap impurities and large particles of
salt. While theyre still in the early stages, all of these projects
give us hope that a major shift is coming in water purification
technology and its availability and one that will benefit the 1 in
10 people worldwide that still lack access to safe drinking water.
The findings are published in Advanced Materials.
Science Alert, 28 July 2016
http://www.sciencealert.com.au
Mineral hydrogel may usher in new class of recyclable
plastics2016-08-10Common plastics, such as polyethylene
terephthalate (PET), have revolutionised food storage and
transport. But they have had a lasting environmental impact, with
industries struggling to recycle the growing mounds of plastics at
landfill sites and found washed up along coastlines. Research
groups have developed novel ways to recycle such waste, be it with
bacteria or converting it into cigarette filters, but on a
relatively small scale. Shengtong Sun from the university of
Konstanz and his colleagues have taken a different approach and
attempted to design a new class of recyclable plastics. Made from
amorphous calcium carbonate nanoparticles cross-linked with
poly(acrylic acid), the teams mineral plastic can be shaped and
stretched like dough. Once the gel is freeze-dried, it adopts a
rigid and transparent shape. The team found the plastic
http://www.sciencealert.com.au
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Aug. 26, 2016
Head lice have be-come immune to most of the over-the-coun-ter
chemicals used to treat them, according to a new study.
Gossipreturns to its original gel form if it is soaked in water
for a day, making it easier to recycle or dispose of.
Chemistry World, 28 July 2016
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/
Head lice becoming resistant to common chemical treatments:
study2016-08-10Head lice have become immune to most of the
over-the-counter chemicals used to treat them, according to a new
study. The study, published recently in the Journal of Medical
Entomology, found insecticides such as permethrin one of the most
common treatments for head lice used to be up to 100 per cent
effective in killing the parasites when it was introduced in 1984.
However, the chemical is now almost 100 per cent ineffective, after
the lice developed a widespread knockdown resistance mutation,
which can be passed on through generations. The study examined more
than 14,000 lice, which were collected from 479 people during
nearly two years to mid-2015. Lice were taken from people in rural
and urban areas at 138 locations throughout the united States. It
found lice from 132 of the collection sites had an average
resistance of 100 per cent to the treatment. Only a single site had
lice that had no mutations, meaning the treatment would be
effective, while others had varying degrees of mutations. Overall,
98.3 per cent of the lice had the mutation, indicating it was
almost uniformly present at high levels in lice collected recently
in the united States, the study found. Resistance levels were not
decreasing with time, it said. This finding is expected, as the OTC
[over-the-counter] products containing the pyrethrins or
pyrethroids are still being used. Dr Cameron Webb, a medical
entomologist at the university of Sydney, said it was well known
that when insecticides were used for a long period, they would
decline in effectiveness. Its not surprising at all, because we
know that insect pests of agriculture or public health concern,
when we have a reliance on pesticides to control them, theres
always a chance they will develop a resistance, he said. We know
its happening with mosquitoes, we know its happening in bedbugs,
and its no surprise at all that it would be happening in head lice.
For other pests such as mosquitoes, there was talk of using genetic
modification to make them vulnerable once more, Dr Webb said.
However, this wasnt on the cards for head lice since they dont pose
a serious risk to their hosts so parents will now be left with
using conditioner and combs to address any outbreaks. Theres no
evidence that head lice pose a significant threat
http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/
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Aug. 26, 2016
Using the fundamen-tals of this discovery, it may be possible to
build a 3D liquid metal humanoid like the T-1000 Termina-tor,
professor says.
Gossipto the health of our children, Dr Webb said. A bit of time
with our kids, getting them to sit still and work through their
hair, is going to be just as effective as some of these insecticide
treatments.
Sydney Morning Herald, 4 August 2016
http://www.smh.com.au/
Shape-shifting Terminator T-1000 robot could become a reality
after scientists announce liquid metal breakthrough2016-08-10The
shape-shifting Terminator T-1000 robot which appeared in the 1990s
film franchise could become a reality after a breakthrough in
liquid-metal technology, scientists have claimed. The researchers
managed to create switches and pumps that operate by themselves out
of a liquid metal alloy. And they said the technique could be used
to create electronic devices that act more like living tissue or
even a version of the fearsome T-1000. In the films, the robot
appears virtually indestructible as it can quickly repair any
damage. It can also take on any appearance it likes and slide under
doors or through the bars of a prison cell. A team of engineers at
RMIT university in Melbourne began by putting a droplet of liquid
metal into water and discovered they were able to make primitive
machines. Professor Kourosh Kalantar-zadeh, who led the work, said:
We adjusted the concentrations of acid, base and salt components in
the water and investigated the effect. Simply tweaking the waters
chemistry made the liquid metal droplets move and change shape,
without any need for external mechanical, electronic or optical
stimulants. using this discovery, we were able to create moving
objects, switches and pumps that could operate autonomously
self-propelling liquid metals driven by the composition of the
surrounding fluid. Eventually, using the fundamentals of this
discovery, it may be possible to build a 3D liquid metal humanoid
on demand like the T-1000 Terminator. However, he admitted the
level of programming needed to build a liquid metal robot would
need to be substantially more complex than the current method. As
well as being able to change into virtually any kind of shape,
metal in liquid form retains a highly-conductive metallic core and
a thin semiconducting skin, which are essential for making
electronic circuits.
The Independent, 4 August 2016
http://news.independent.co.uk
http://www.smh.com.au/http://news.independent.co.uk
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Aug. 26, 2016
Intensive e-waste processing such as open burning is harmful to
the environment and to human health.
GossipE-waste: the fine line between useful materials and toxic
waste2016-08-10We all know what it feels like to finally agree to
get rid of that old computer that has been collecting dust in the
attic (yes the one with Windows XP that you cant even pass on to
your children for fear of them mocking you). Perhaps you have an
old Nintendo 64 in the shed. Or a Nokia 6310 in the kitchen drawer.
If you hang on to them for much longer they will be considered
antiques. There comes a time in every electronic items lifecycle
when it simply needs to go.
What is e-waste?
The term e-waste can be misleading. A lot of appliances that are
disposed are still functional products the users have just
outgrown. Or perhaps they are broken but still contain parts that
can be recycled. Waste from obsolete electronic devices and
appliances such as personal computers, television sets, mobile
phones, printers and refrigerators is generated at a global rate of
about 41.8 million tons per year, according to a press release by
united Nations university. Currently, large quantities of this so
called e-waste are recycled in both developed and developing
countries because it contains considerable quantities of valuable
and reusable metals, plastics, glass and other materials. Cell
phones and other electronic items contain high amounts of precious
metals like gold or silver. Americans dump phones containing over
$60 million in gold and silver every year. The use of certain
e-waste-processing methods, such as open burning, especially in the
developing world, has become an important issue in the last decade
because of the adverse human health impacts of these methods. A
team of scientists led by Dr. go Suzuki, Senior Researcher at the
Centre for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National
Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), in Japan has been
investigating e-waste-processing activities in Bui Dau, a village
in the My Hao district of northern Vietnam. They wanted to clarify
the current levels of contaminants associated with various types of
e-waste processing. They also monitored the 3-year temporal trends,
not only of chemicals that may be initially present in e-waste,
such as phosphorus-containing flame retardants and heavy metals but
also of hazardous chemicals that may be generated during e-waste
processing, such as chlorinated and brominated dioxins and
dioxin-like compounds.
What are dioxins?
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GossipDioxins are environmental pollutants. They belong to the
so-called dirty dozen - a group of dangerous chemicals known as
persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Dioxins are of concern
because of their highly toxic potential. Experiments have shown
they affect a number of organs and systems. Once dioxins enter the
body, they last a long time because of their chemical stability and
their ability to be absorbed by fat tissue, where they are then
stored in the body. Their half-life in the body is estimated to be
7 to 11 years. In the environment, dioxins tend to accumulate in
the food chain. The higher an animal is in the food chain, the
higher the concentration of dioxins.
Intensive versus non-intensive e-waste processing
Its perhaps no surprise that many researchers have already
concluded that intensive e-waste processing such as open burning is
harmful to the environment and to human health. However, in this
study, they wanted to provide data for environmental samples
collected from areas where nonintensive processing activities such
as collection, storage and manual dismantling of e-waste were
conducted. The levels of flame retardants (FRs), such as
polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and possible alternatives,
have also been reported by Matsukami et al and Someya et al, and
data for heavy metals will be reported in the near future.
Environmental contamination by PBDEs remains high, but contribution
of alternative FRs increased during the 3-year investigation.
Environmental contamination by FRs might have changed owing to
international regulations of POP-PBDEs.
go Suzuki, PhDgo Suzuki, PhDDr. Suzuki gives us more background:
The results obtained from this study elucidated the levels,
possible sources, and temporal trends in the levels of persistent
dioxin-like compounds in surface soils and river sediments
collected in and around an e-waste-processing site in a village in
northern Vietnam. Dioxin-like compounds were found to have
accumulated in samples collected in areas where e-waste-processing
activities such as open burning and open storage were conducted, as
well as in areas near e-waste processing workshops. Moreover, our
results indicate that dioxin-like compounds derived from
e-waste-processing activities such as open burning may be
transported from their source to surrounding areas over the course
of several years. Our findings indicate that open burning and open
storage of e-waste should be prohibited and that wastewater
treatment measures should be implemented at each e-waste-processing
workshop to reduce pollution by e-waste-derived, dioxin-like
compounds. After a 3-year investigation, we had a face-to-face
meeting with e-waste-processing workshop owners
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One day your hard drive could just be a pile of plastic.
Gossipand workers at Bui Dau under the collaboration with
Chairman of Cam Xa commune-My Hao District. It was an excellent
opportunity to discuss e-waste issues and countermeasures to reduce
chemical pollution. We believe this is an important first step in
educating the local e-waste workers and making them aware of just
how important their actions are in reducing the pollution. Our
final goal is to share how to conduct a sustainable e-waste
processing in the Asian-Pacific region and the developing
world.
Elsevier, 28 July 2016
https://www.elsevier.com
Libraries of plastic molecules could store huge amounts of
data2016-08-10One day your hard drive could just be a pile of
plastic. Researchers have coded a word into short chains of plastic
molecules, which could be used as a space-saving way to store our
mountains of data or even to reveal counterfeit goods. DNA has
shown some promise in holding millions of bits of information in a
tiny volume. But DNA is fragile and hard to write and read. So
Jean-Franois Lutz at the Institut Charles Sadron in Strasbourg,
France, has been experimenting with more customisable chains of
plastic molecules that can encode information in similar ways. Also
known as polymers, these chains are made up of two kinds of
molecules that stand for the 1s and 0s of digital computer code.
Previous research has seen data stored in single long chains, but
these become harder to read as the length increases, so the storage
record stands at just 10 bits. Lutzs team had a different approach.
Instead of making very long chains, the idea is to create a library
of very short chains, he says. As a demonstration, the team wrote
the acronym CNRS, the abbreviation for the French National Centre
for Scientific Research, across six polymers a 32-bit message when
encoded using standard ASCII characters. The researchers read the
message by sorting the chains from shortest to longest using a mass
spectrometer and then sequencing the chains by breaking them apart
molecule-by-molecule. The shorter chains, less than a nanometre
each, are easier to manage than one long one, while their varying
length keeps the data in the right order. I think its an
encouraging step, says Luis Ceze at the university of Washington in
Seattle.
Stolen goods
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Aug. 26, 2016
The best way to clean up an oceanic oil spill might be to light
a fire tornado on top of it.
GossipTo store big chunks of information, researchers will have
to scale up the technology to make large libraries of chains, Ceze
says. In addition, it would be quicker to write data into the
molecules if the chains could be synthesised in parallel rather
than one at a time, he adds. While writing and reading these
polymers is currently expensive, there are some high-end uses for
them. Embedding coded polymers in pricey electronics or artworks
could label them with the makers or owners identity, says Lutz.
Reading a sample of the molecule chains would let investigators
discover the source of the object, helping them find counterfeits
and stolen goods. Both DNA and synthetic polymers have the
potential to shrink the size needed for data storage, says Reza
Zadegan at Boise State university in Idaho. Thats important, since
the worlds data is piling up faster than our ability to store it.
In 2040, the amount of space needed to keep our data in silicon
chips could be as large as a small country, perhaps twice the size
of Liechtenstein, he says. using several types of molecules would
let researchers write in a code that packs more information into
shorter sequences than binary 0s and 1s can, says Zadegan. While
scientists have introduced two artificial letters into DNA for a
total of six letters, it could be simpler to design an entirely new
plastic molecule alphabet. These polymers are perhaps easier to
deal with if you want to expand the language, he says.
New Scientist, 5 August 2016
http://www.newscientist.com/
To Clean Up An Oil Spill, Light a Fire Tornado2016-08-10The best
way to clean up an oceanic oil spill might be to light a fire
tornado on top of it. Thats the conclusion drawn by researchers
from the university of Maryland, who found that, under controlled
conditions, a fire whirl was the most efficient way to burn
hydrocarbon fuel. That could come in handy the next time an oil
slick, like 2011s Deepwater Horizon spill, occurs. Simply burning
the slick off has been proposed as a method for dealing with the
oil, releasing tons of environmentally-damaging compounds into the
air. With a cleaner flame, however, the slick could be cleaned up
more responsibly. These fire whirls could also potentially be used
in combustion power plants as a way to generate power with less
waste. Fire whirls are more efficient than other forms of
combustion because they produce drastically increased heating to
the surface of fuels, allowing them to burn faster and more
completely. In our experiments over water, weve seen how the
circulation fire whirls
http://www.newscientist.com/
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Gossipgenerate also helps to pull in fuels. If we can achieve a
state akin to the blue whirl at larger scale, we can further reduce
airborne emissions for a much cleaner means of spill clean-up, says
Michael gollner, a co-author of the paper in a press release. Fire
whirls can be a destructive phenomenon. In nature, intense winds
generated by a fire can begin to circulate violently in the right
conditions, whipping the flames around and upwards into a towering
inferno much like their non-fiery tornado cousins. The additional
air and fuel drawn in by the circulating currents goads the fire
into a frenzy, potentially reaching temperatures of 2,000 degrees
F. These sharkfirenados can be deadly one such occurrence following
an earthquake in Japan in 1923 was estimated to have killed nearly
40,000 people. under the right conditions, however, the roaring
monster can be tamed and turned into a peaceful blue swirl. In the
lab, the Maryland researchers first created a simple pool fire by
lighting a slick of heptane fed by an underwater pipe in a
contained environment. By enclosing the fire with two semi-circular
sheets and blowing air through, they made a regular fire whirl.
Their goal was to study how these structures are conceived and
evolve, but they were surprised to find that fire whirls have
another stage: what they call a blue whirl. In this phase, the
blazing column settles down into a small, top-shaped flare with a
sharply defined blue ring around it. According to the researchers,
the blue whirl burns hotter and spins faster than a normal fire
whirl, leading to much more efficient combustion and far fewer
emissions. They published their findings Friday in the Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences.
Evolution uncertain
Its not entirely clear how the blue whirl forms, although it is
likely the product of the vortex gradually reaching an optimal spin
rate under ideal conditions. Without any outside perturbations, the
researchers say that their creation could likely burn indefinitely.
The blue whirl is made possible by the presence of water in the
system, they say. Whereas fire tornadoes typically form above land,
the addition of water allows for a region between the surface and
the fire where the fuel evaporates and gets mixed together with
oxygen before being ignited. This premixing action serves to make
the flame more efficient. The rotation of the whirl also helps to
bring in more oxygen, increasing the amount of fuel available to
the fire. Higher levels of fuel lead to a hotter and more efficient
fire, where soot and particulate matter that might escape a normal
fire get ignited as well, decreasing the emissions. Such a process
could be applied to oil spills or in coal or natural gas-fuelled
energy plants, granting cleaner electricity with more efficiency.
The exact process by which the fire whirls form
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Gossipand maintain themselves is still a mystery to the
researchers. In addition, creating a blue whirl outside of the lab
will likely be quite difficult, due to unstable winds and varying
terrain conditions. They say that there have not been reports of
any such occurrences prior to this, indicating that fire whirls in
nature never make it past the fiery, smoke-shrouded secondary
phase. Still, they say it is an important insight into the dynamics
of fire whirl evolution.
Discover Magazine, 8 August 2016
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com
Accounting for ozone: Study first to quantify impact of oil and
gas emissions on Denvers ozone problemThe first peer-reviewed study
to directly quantify how emissions from oil and gas activities
influence summertime ozone pollution in the Colorado Front Range
confirms that chemical vapours from oil and gas activities are a
significant contributor to the regions chronic ozone problem.
Summertime ozone pollution levels in the northern Front Range
periodically spike above 70 parts per billion (ppb), which is
considered unhealthy -- on average, 17 ppb of that ozone is
produced locally. The new research, published in the Journal of
geophysical Research: Atmospheres, shows that oil and gas emissions
contribute an average of 3 ppb of the locally produced ozone daily,
and potentially more than that on high-ozone days. By combining
nearly 50,000, high-precision measurements of VOCs in Colorados
Front Range with an equally detailed model, weve been able to parse
out the role of oil and gas, said Erin McDuffie, the studys lead
author and a scientist at the Cooperative Institute for Research in
Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the university of Colorado
Boulder, working in the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory. We
expect this technique to help us better understand what factors are
contributing to air quality challenges elsewhere in the West. Ozone
pollution -- which can harm peoples lungs and damage crops -- is
produced when sunlight sparks reactions between volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). In cities like Denver,
NOx comes primarily from vehicle tailpipes. VOCs can come from both
natural sources like trees and anthropogenic ones, like oil and gas
activities. Colorados northern Front Range was an interesting
location for this study for a number of reasons, the researchers
said. First, it contains the major city of Denver as well as active
oil and gas regions to the northeast. This area is unique, with
high concentrations of both nitr