Green Chem Brief Final

8/3/2019 Green Chem Brief Final

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CONTENTS

Californias Opportunity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3

Green Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5

Policy Gaps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-9

Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11

Chemicals in People. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-13

Children and Workers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14-17

Economic Consequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18-19

Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20-23

Signatories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24-26

OVERVIEW

e principles of chemicals policy outlined in this report highlight the need for a modern, comprehensive

solution to pressing health, environmental and economic problems associated with Californias management

of chemicals and products. ese policies will promote the science, technology, and commercial applications

of green chemistry: the design, manufacture and use of chemicals, processes and products that are safer forhuman health and the environment. Building new productive capacity in green chemistry will support a vibrant

economy, open new opportunities for investment and employment, and protect human health and the states

natural resources.

is report was prepared by the UC Centers for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH). e State of

California established COEH at the UC campuses of Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles and San Francisco in

1978 (AB 3414) to apply the resources of the University toward occupational and environmental health issues

in California.

FULL REPORT AND REFERENCES:

http://coeh.berkeley.edu/greenchemistry/briefing/ or www.coeh.ucla.edu/greenchemistry.htm

Report prepared by:

University of California Berkeley

Michael P. Wilson, PhD, MPH Megan R. Schwarzman, MD, MPH

School of Public Health School of Public Health

University of California Los Angeles

Timothy F. Malloy, JD Elinor W. Fanning, PhD Peter J. Sinsheimer, MPH, MA

School of Law School of Public Health Pollution Prevention Center, Occidental College

Funded by:

California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control

California Policy Research Center, UC Office of the President

UC Centers for Occupational and Environmental Health

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Copyright 2008, Regents of the University of California, Al l rights reserved

Design by Big ink Studios, San Francisco

Printed on 100% recycled paper with soy-based inks

UC Berkeley Center for Environmental Public Health Tracking, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


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c a l i o r ni a s o p p o r t u ni t y

Buyers thereore choose chemi-

cals and products primarily on the

basis o their unction, price, and

perormance, with much less atten-

tion given to their saety or human

health and the environment.

Most o the ensuing costs o

health and environmental damage

caused b haardous chemical

eposures, pollutants and waste

rest with the public.

Caliornia has demon-

strated b its orward-looing

approach to air ualit manage-

ment, energ ecienc and climate

change that a ibrant econom

need not come at the epense o

human health and the eniron-

ment see sidebar. Te state can

appl this same strateg to the

industrial chemical sector and the

promising arena o green chemis-

tr: the design, manuacture and

use o chemicals, processes and

products that are saer or human

health and the enironment.

c a l i o r n i a s o p p o r t u n i t y

Growth in chemical production outpaces population growth. Global chemical produc-tion is expected to grow 3% per year, while global population will grow 0.77% per

year. On this trajectory, chemical production will increase 330% by 2050, comparedto a 47% increase in population, relative to year 2000. Source: Organization orEconomic Cooperation and Development 2001; American Chemistry Council 2003;United Nations 2004.5

FIGURE 1. GROWH IN CHEMICAL PRODUCION

PROJECTEDGROWTHINDEX

YEAR

2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050

Global Chemical Production

Global Population

0

100

200

300

400

500

As a consequence o long-standing

weaknesses in ederal policy, the

health and environmental eects o

the great majority o some 80,000

industrial chemicals in commer-

cial use in the U.S. are largely

unknown.1 Tis condition has

produced a awed market in which

buyers, rom individual consumers

to the largest companies in Cali-

ornia, lack the inormation they

need to choose the least hazardous

chemicals and products.

Caliornia policies supporting clean

technology link economic develop-

ment with improved conditions or

human health and the environment:

Emissions standards have improved

the states air quality and have stimu-

lated innovation in lower-emission

technologies nationwide.2

After 30 years of improvements in

energy efciency, Caliornia now

uses hal as much electricity and

emits nearly hal the carbon dioxide

per capita as the rest o the nation

(Figure 2).3

The state is now a global leader in

climate change policy, with legisla-

tion that is expected to generate

89,000 new jobs in clean energy

technologies by 2020.4

SUCCESSFUL RACk RECORD


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lonG-standinG problEMs

Te e e hem

mmee

Each da, a total o 42 billion

pounds o chemical substances are

produced or imported in the U.S.

or commercial and industrial uses,90% o which rel on ossil uel

eedstocs.6 An additional 1,000

new chemicals are introduced into

commerce each ear.7 Global chemi-

cal production is doubling eer 25

ears, rapidl outpacing population

growth Figure 1.

Man o these substances come in

direct contact with people in the

worplace, in homes, and throughair, water, ood and waste streams.

Eentuall, most o them enter the

earths nite ecosstems.

p g

Despite landmark environmen-

tal and occupational legislation

health or the environment, nor

has it promoted innovation in the

chemicals market. here are three

overarching chemicals policy

problems that are rooted in the

weaknesses o SCA and other

state and ederal laws:8

tHE data Gap:

Manuacturers and businesses can

sell a chemical or product without

generating or disclosing adeuate

inormation about its potential

health or enironmental haards.

tHE saEty Gap:

Public agencies are unable to e-

cientl gather haard inormation

rom producers; proactiel regulate

nown haards; or reuire produc-

ers to accept greater responsibilit

or the lieccle impacts o their

products.

tHE tEcHnoloGy Gap:

Tere is insucient public and pri-

ate inestment in green chemistr

in 1970, ollowed by passage

o the ederal oxic Substances

Control Act (SCA) in 1976,

chemicals policy has not been

suiciently protective o human

INDEx OF ANNUAL CALIFORNIA HE ALH AND ENvIRONMENAL INDICAORS

Workplace health

208,000 Number o new cases o chronic disease attributable to workplacechemical exposures10

4,400 Number o premature deaths rom disease attributable toworkplace chemical exposures11

$1,400 million Direct and indirect costs o workplace diseases and deathsattributable to chemical exposures12

Community health

159 million Pounds o toxic chemicals emitted by Caliornia industries andreported to the U.S. EPA13

5% Percent o total industrial chemical emissions accounted or underU.S. EPA reporting requirements14

$1,200 million Direct and indirect costs o childhood diseases attributable to

chemical exposures

15

$1,100 million Health and environmental costs resulting rom commercialpesticide use16

1 million Number o women o reproductive age with blood mercury levelsexceeding what U.S. EPA considers safe17

Waste

7,600 million Pounds o plastic waste estimated to enter landflls18

3% Percent o plastic waste recycled19

963 million Pounds o electronics estimated to enter landflls20

147 million Pounds o hazardous household waste estimated to enter landflls21

72% Percent o the states largest hazardous waste sites leaking toxicmaterial into groundwater22

FIGURE 2. PER CAPIA ELECRICIy SALE S (kWH/PERSON)

Energy-saving policies initiated in the 1970s altered the course o Caliorniaselectricity consumption. The state now uses 50% o the electricity per capita com-

pared to the nation as a whole, markedly reducing greenhouse gas emissions andsaving a total o $56 billion or individuals and businesses through 2003. Changingthe course o Caliornias chemical industrial system will likewise require a multi-

pronged, sustained approach; doing so could produce similar gains in economicgrowth, human health and environmental protection. Source: Caliornia EnergyCommission, 2007.9

14,000

12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2008

KILO

WATTHOURS

YEAR

0

CA

US


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c a l i o r ni a s o p p o r t u ni t y

toic materials rom their opera-

tions, motiated b concerns or

worer saet, enironmental pro-

tection, shareholder alue, liabilit,

cost and new E.U. regulations.26

Tese deelopments signal that

a paradigm shit could occur in the

design, manuacture and use o

industrial chemicals, products and

processes.

caliornias opportunity

A comprehensie chemicals polic is

a cornerstone to a sustainable Cali-

ornia uture. A chemicals polic

that addresses the data gap, saet

gap and technolog gap will:

Proide businesses and consum-

ers with sucient health and

enironmental inormation to

choose the saest products or

their needs

research, deelopment, education,

and technical assistance.

tHE tiME is riGHt

In 2007, Caliornia launched a set o

initiaties with the potential to mae

the state a national leader in trans-

orming the management o chemi-

cals and products see bo p. 3.

Facing a similar set o problems to

those in Caliornia and the U.S., the

27-nation European Union E.U. is

implementing sweeping new policies

goerning chemicals and products

see bo. Because these policies

appl euall to producers and

importers, the are epected to spur

global innoation in cleaner technol-

ogies, including green chemistr.24

Canada has also tacled the lac

o chemical haard inormation,

collecting eisting data or roughl

23,000 chemicals, nearl 20% o

which hae subseuentl been

targeted or urther scrutin on the

basis o their potential riss.25

Liewise, some leading Calior-

nia businesses are attempting to

identi and remoe toic and eco-

Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law the nations rst state-based biomonitoring

program to identiy and track synthetic chemicals and pollutants in people.27

Cal/EPA launched a far-reaching Green Chemistry Initiative.28

The Integrated Waste Management Board drafted measures to substantially improve

producer responsibility.29

Dozens of local governments joined the California Product Stewardship Council to

address rising costs o waste management.30

California Legislators introduced forward-looking chemicals policy proposals.31

A coalition of 30 public interest groups formed Californians for a Healthy and Green

Economy (CHANGE) to advocate for chemicals policy reform.32

California established the Ocean Protection Council to confront the problem of ocean

plastic contamination.33

CALIFORNIA LEADERSHIP ON CHEMICALS POLICy AND PRODUCSEWARDSHIP, 2007

The vast majority o industrial

chemicals are new to human biology

and ecosystems since WWII. They

are now widely dispersed in the

environment and in people: 287

chemicals and pollutants have been

detected in umbilical cord blood.23

A resh approach to chemicals polic

in Caliornia is essential to building

a modern, ibrant econom while

saeguarding human health and theenironment.

Ensure that the manuacture and

use o chemicals and products

does not come at the epense o

human health and the eniron-

mentMotiate inestment, entrepre-

neurship and emploment in

green chemistr

Improe Caliornia businesses

health and enironmental stew-

ardship

Appl the resources o the states

colleges and uniersities to green

chemistr deelopment

Support Caliornia businesses

in remaining competitie in the

global maret

Preent the sale in Caliornia

o haardous products that are

prohibited outside the U.S.


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4

contaminants, or eample, costs

insurers, businesses and the public

about $30 million a ear at Calior-

nias largest haardous waste sites.3

With global chemical produc-tion doubling eer 25 ears, a new

approach is needed that motiates

industr inestment in the design

o saer chemicals and products

rom the outset, beore the enter

commerce.4

tHE proMisE o GrEEn

cHEMistry

Green chemistr is a undamentall

dierent approach that protects

human and enironmental health

b replacing haardous chemicals,

processes, and products with saer

alternaties. Te principles o green

G r E E n c H E M i s t r y

Caliornia is positioned to become

a national leader in new policies

that promote the science, technol-

ogy, and commercial applications

o green chemistry: the design and

use o chemicals, processes, and

products that are saer or human

health and the environment.1 In

essence, green chemistry seeks to

design out the health and envi-

ronmental hazards posed by chemi-

cals and chemical processes. Tis

approach diers markedly rom

current chemical management

practices, which ocus on reducing,

rather than preventing chemi-

cal exposures and environmental

contamination.

Tese eisting end-o-pipe

approaches are oten costl and

minimall eectie. Groundwatermonitoring or industrial chemical

Te principles o green chemistr guide

rms in designing new products and

processes in such a wa that their impact

on the enironment is reduced Green

chemistr ma unnowingl eliminate

some critical enironmental problems

beore we eer learn that such problems

eist.

RAND Science and Technology Policy Institute 2

The same novel physical, chemical and biological properties of engineered nanoma-

terials that make them potentially benefcial may also produce new hazards or human

health and the environment.5 The rapid development and commercialization of nano-

materials, however, is outpacing eorts to ensure their saety prior to widespread use.6

Applying the principles of green chemistry to this sector would help ensure the safer

implementation o nanotechnologies.

NANOECHNOLOGy MEES GREEN CHEMISRy


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Gr E E n c H E M i s t r y

chemistr can be applied to each o

the our main phases o the chemi-

cal and product lieccle: design,

manuacture, use and end-o-lie.7

chem eg

Formulate chemicals to be eec-

tie while reducing human and

ecosstem toicit

Faor renewable materials oer

ossil uel eedstocs where it

proides a net ecological gain

Design chemicals to brea down

into innocuous substancesater use

p me

Use energ-ecient processes

at minimal temperature and

pressure

Reuse chemical intermediates

and produce minimal or no waste

Use biologicall benign solents

p e

Minimie or eliminate the use

o toic, bioaccumulatie and/or

persistent chemicals in productsMaimie the proportion o re-

used materials in new products

Retain responsibilit or prod-

ucts throughout their lieccle,

rom design to re-use

Ee

Preent the generation o ha-

ardous chemical and product

wasteReccle chemicals and materials

used in manuacturing processes

and products

Recoer products at the end o

their useul lie

o realie the potential o a

green chemistr industrial trans-

ormation, Caliornia will need new

Green chemistry strategies target each stage o a products liecycle to continually improve its biological and ecological saety,reduce its energy consumption, and eliminate the production o hazardous and product waste.

The premise o green chemistry is

to design chemicals, materials and

manuacturing processes that are

inherently saer or humans and the

environment, ollowing principles o

biological compatibility, renewabil-

ity, biodegradability and closed-loop

systems.

LIFECyCLE OF A CONSUMER PRODUC

Water Hazardous Waste

Wildlife

Garbage

Food Ecosstems

Home

Reccled Material

Workplace

Air

CHEMICALSPOLLUTANTS &

PRODUCTWASTE

Packaging & transportEnerg

Manufacturing

Raw materials Product use & disposal

policies that re-orient the maret

such that it rewards producers or

improing inormation transpar-

enc, product stewardship andinnoation in cleaner technologies.


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6

SCA places the costl and time-

consuming burden o obtaining data

on EPA, rather than reuiring chemical

companies to deelop and submit such

data to EPA. Conseuentl, EPA has

used its authorities to reuire testing or

ewer than 200 o the 62,000 chemicals

in commerce when EPA began reiewing

chemicals under SCA in 1979

John B. Stephenson, Government Accountability OceTestimony beore U.S. Senate Committee on

Environment and Public Works, August 2006 2

p o l i c y G a p s

o transorm the management o

chemicals and products, Caliornia

will need to contend with three

over-arching policy problems identi-

fed here as the data gap, the saety

gap, and the technology gap. Tese

policy gaps derive rom structural

weaknesses in ederal and state

laws, most notably the ederal oxic

Substances Control Act (SCA) o

1976. SCAs limitations have been

widely recognized by many analysts

(see box p. 9) and have had ar-

reaching implications.1

ogether, the three gaps hae:

Impeded proper operation o

the maret or chemicals and

products

Preented adeuate regulation o

chemicals and products o great-

est concern

Discouraged priate and public

inestment in green chemistr

research and deelopment

As a result, green chemistr has

been unable to brea out o niche

marets, and costl health and

enironmental damage has contin-

ued largel uncheced.

tHE data Gap

og

SCA does not reuire producers to

inestigate or disclose inormation

about the haardous properties o

their chemicals and products. As a

result, there is a signicant lac o

inormation on the health or eni-

ronmental eects o most o the

80,000 industrial chemicals used

in the U.S.3 Tese include 62,000

chemicals that were alread in com-

merce when SCA was enacted and

which were grandathered into use

without urther reiew.4 92% o the

highest production olume chemi-

cals in commercial use toda consist

o these substances.5 In addition,


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p o l i c y Ga p s

the U.S. EPA has reported that 85%

o new chemical notices submitted

b companies lac data on health

eects, and 67% lac health or eni-

ronmental data o an ind.10

All other ederal statutes com-

bined regulate just oer 1,000

chemicals and pollutants.11 U.S.

EPA has made limited progress

in closing the data gap under the

oluntar High Production volume

HPv Chemical Challenge, which

encourages producers to submit

screening-leel inormation or

about 3,000 chemicals produced orimported at more than one million

pounds per ear.12 Screening-leel

inormation, howeer, is not su-

cient to inorm either business or

consumer choices.13

racing data on chemical use in

Caliornia is also lacing: there is

no state-wide inormation on the

olume or location o chemicals or

products produced or imported, no

catalogue o their commercial and

consumer uses, and irtuall no

record o their ultimate disposal or

enironmental ate.14

Ee ee, me

gee

Te data gap has produced a sewed

chemicals maret in which products

compete on all attributes ecept

saet.15 As a result:

Consumers are largel unable to

choose products on the basis o

their potential health and eni-ronmental impacts

Businesses and manuacturers

hae limited inormation with

which to identi and eliminate

haardous chemicals and prod-

ucts in their suppl chains

Public agencies hae insucient

inormation to identi chemi-

cal haards o highest prior-

it or human health and theenironment

Te deterrent unction o the

product liabilit and wor-

ers compensation sstems is

undermined

Finall, without inormation on

chemical haards or uses, neither

the maret nor public agencies can

stimulate or reward the deelop-

ment and commercialiation o

saer alternaties.

tHE saEty Gap

Producers are not currentl

reuired to assume ull respon-

sibilit or the health eects andenironmental conseuences that

can occur oer the lieccle o their

products. As a result, there is little

impetus to minimie the potential

haards associated with the manu-

acture, use or disposal o chemicals

and products.

Without sucient data to inorm

The Cosmetics Directive prohibits the use of 1,000 known or suspected carcinogens,

mutagens, or reproductive toxicants in cosmetics (2004). 6

The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) directive requires producers to

take back products at the end of their useful life (2005).7

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment

(RoHS) directive prohibits the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, and certain ame-retar-

dants in all electronics sold in the E.U. (2006).8 The Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)

regulation requires that producers provide hazard and exposure inormation on over

10,000 chemicals and apply for authorization for the use of substances of very high

concern (2007).9

EUROPEAN UNION INIIAIvES ON CHEMICALS AND PRODUCS

The lack o inormation on the

health and environmental impacts

o most chemicals and products

means that neither consumers nor

businesses can choose the saest

products or their needs.

Te data gap has produced a sewedchemicals maret in which products

compete on all attributes ecept

their saet or human health and

the enironment


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8

ers not to inestigate or disclose

inormation about the health and

enironmental eects o their


Een in cases where a haardous

chemical or product is clearl iden-

tied and a iable, saer alternatieeists, agencies are oten unable

to reuire adoption o the alterna-

tie or ecientl control use o the

haardous substance.14

Te evee

exee ge ee

In satising its burden o proo,

agencies must meet a standard o

eidence that:15

Reuires health and eposure

inormation that cannot be

obtained rom producers

Oten eceeds the limits o scien-

tic nowledge

Relies on estimates and assump-

tions that are easil contested

Is limited to chemical-b-chem-

ical assessments that poorl

the demand or saer products, or

a sstem or product stewardship,

public agencies are limited to regu-

lating the use and disposal o eist-

ing chemicals and products, rather

than taing preentie measures.

Even in this limited role, however,public agencies are oten unable to

act expediently, as a consequence o

two key barriers: the burden o proo

and the standard o evidence.

p gee he e

With the eception o pesticides

and pharmaceuticals, laws go-

erning chemicals in the U.S. and

Caliornia generall reuire public

agencies, not producers, to carr

the burden o proo that a chemi-

cal or product causes unreason-

able harm to human health or the

enironment beore the agenc can

implement protectie measures.13

Placing a high burden o proo on

public agencies encourages produc-

refect actual eposures and can

lead to substitution with another

haardous substance

Tis standard o eidence is

epensie to achiee and is ineec-

tie or chemicals polic decision-maing, gien the immense pace

and scale o chemical production.

In the absence o sucient health

and enironmental inormation,

potentiall haardous chemicals

and products are allowed to enter

or remain on the maret.

tHE tEcHnoloGy Gap

Te dicult transition rom con-

cept to commercial application o

green chemistr oten reuires

that a compan conduct etensie

research and deelopment, mae

potentiall large capital inest-

ments, and assume the riss o

being a leader in an emerging eld.

Te maret and regulator

weanesses caused b the data and

FIGURE 1. IMPLICAIONS OF HE HREE POLICy GAPS

Taken together, the three policy gaps produce undamental obstacles to green chemistry innovation. Policy measures that cor-rect the three gaps will lower these obstacles and open new opportunities or investment in green chemistry while also protect-ing human health and the environment.

THE GREEN CHEMISTRyOPPORTUNITyCorrecting a skewed marketThe three policy gaps contributeto a skewed market that, icorrected, will motivate newinvestment in green chemistry

TECHNOLOGy GAPThe lack of market and regulatory drivers slowsdevelopment o green chemistry technologies;investment in obsolete technology inhibitsinnovation

SAFETy GAPRegulatory agencies are overly constrainedin reducing risks to workers, the publicand the environment; producers are notrequired to take responsibility or the ate

o their products

DATA GAPProducers are not requiredto investigate or disclose thehazard properties o theirchemicals and products


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p o l i c y Ga p s

saet gaps, together with organi-

ational and institutional inertia

within industr and a lac o public

and priate inestment in green

chemistr research and education,

all mae companies reluctant to

tae on these riss. Tis is produc-ing a green chemistr technolog

gap that could hae long-term

implications or U.S. competi-

tieness in the global maret or


iMplications o tHE

tHrEE policy Gaps

Te data, saet and technolog

gaps Figure 1 hae produced afawed maret or chemicals and

products, in which:

Te health eects o most chemi-

cals are poorl understood

Haardous chemicals and prod-

ucts remain cost-competitie

Te costs o health and eniron-

mental damage are carried b

the public

Tere is minimal industr inest-

ment in green chemistr

Goernment regulation does not

adeuatel protect the public

Tere is irtuall no attention

gien to green chemistr in high

school, college or uniersit

curricula

Not surprisingl, U.S. produc-

ers hae not inested in green

chemistr at a leel commensurate

with the scale and pace o chemical

production: the industrs spending

on research and deelopment has

decreased or remained fat since

2000, and oer 90% o the highest

olume chemicals used toda were

in use in 1979, when SCA was

implemented.16

Industr leaders are more liel

to improe their inestments in

green chemistr i the can be con-

dent that:

Data gap: O the 81,600 chemicals

in the TSCA inventory, 62,000 were

not subjected to review or their

potential hazards to human health

or the environment. T he U.S. EPA

ound that 85% o notices submit-

ted by producers or new chemicals

lacked health eects data.26

Te nations econom increasingl

relies on a wide ariet o chemical

products and processes. Progress

in slowing the use o potentiallhaardous substances has not

ept pace with other positie

enironmental trends oer the past

30 ears.

RAND Science and Technology Policy Institute27

The shortcomings of TSCA have been described for more than 20 years. The followingreports conclude that TSCA has not provided an effective vehicle for the public, industry

or government to either assess chemical hazards or control those o greatest concern.

National Academy of Sciences17 1984

U.S. General Accounting Ofce18 1994

Congressional Ofce of Technology Assessment19 1995

Environmental Defense20 1997

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency21 1998

Former TSCA Administrator22 2002

National Pollution Prevention and Toxics Advisory Committee23 2003

U.S. Government Accountability Ofce24 2005

U.S. Government Accountability Ofce25 2007

SHORCOMINGS OF HE OxIC S UBSANCES CONROL AC (SC A)

Te maret aors these inest-

ments the data gap is closed

Te regulator sstem aors

these inestments the saet gap

is closed

Tere are other incenties to

reduce costs or riss the tech-

nolog gap is closed


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10

the U.S. EPA estimates that the

countr will reuire 217,000 new

haardous waste sites b 2033, a

180% increase oer todas 77,000eisting sites.1 Each ear, more

than $1 billion is spent on eorts

to clean up haardous waste Super-

und sites. Cleanup costs or uture

sites are estimated at about $250

billion.2

Te majorit o Caliornias

largest haardous waste sites are

leaing: the states Department o

oic Substances Control DSCestimates that 61 out o 85 sites are

leaing into groundwater. O the

51 sites inspected or groundwater

intrusion, 94 percent were ound to

present, a major threat to human

health or the enironment.3

ElEctronic WastE

Te U.S. EPA estimates that oer 10

billion pounds o electronic prod-

ucts were discarded in U.S. landlls

in 2000, or about 34 pounds per

person.4 Between 300 million and

1.6 billion pounds o electronic

waste entered Caliornia landlls in

2003 the latest ear with aailable

data.5

Electronic waste containsman nown toic substances,

including arsenic, nicel, cadmium,

lead, mercur, phthalates, olatile

E n V i r o n M E n t

Caliornia aces an array o envi-

ronmental problems related to the

manuacture, use and disposal o

industrial chemicals and products.

Tese problems are a natural con-

sequence o market and regulatory

weaknesses that discourage disclo-

sure o chemical hazard inorma-

tion, producer responsibility and

innovation in green chemistry.

Green chemistr oers solutions

to these enironmental problemsb designing:

Enironmentall benign chemi-

cals and materials

Industrial processes that con-

sere energ and reccle raw

materials, and

Products whose components can

be recaptured and reused at the

end o the products useul lie

Tese and other green chemis-

tr strategies preent dispersion

o haardous substances into the

enironment and ultimatel elimi-

nate haardous and product waste.

Hazardous WastE

Te number o haardous waste

sites in the U.S. continues to rise:

Contamination of the environment by plastic materials reects a product management

system gone awry. Plastic products are manuactured out o non-renewable materials,

contain substances that are toxic to biological and ecological systems, and are designed

and packaged for disposal rather than re-use. The resulting pollution presents unique

environmental hazards; ocean plastics provide one example.

The North Pacic central gyre is a region of the Pacic Ocean between California and

Hawaii in which ocean currents and wind patterns gather plastic and other debris into a

central area. Plastic debris now covers an area of the gyre about twice the size of Texas.

Researchers estimate that the mass of plastic particles is about six times greater than

that o plankton, and that this ratio will grow ten-old over the next ten years.6 Nearly all

o this material comes rom urban areas. Plastic debris has been ound in the stomachs

of 43 to 86 percent of seabirds and marine animals studied.7

Due to their small size, plastic particles are not recoverable rom the ocean; they are

likely to remain in the marine ecosystem or hundreds o years. Ninety percent o the

mass of oating debris in the worlds oceans and 99% of the material on the worlds

beaches consists of plastic products and the pellets used to manufacture them.8

PLASIC CONAMINAION OF HE PACIFIC OCEAN


13/28

E nV i r o nM E nt

organic compounds and bromi-

nated fame retardants.9

Te Caliornia Integrated Waste

Management Board estimates

that in scal year 2007 08, the

states Covered Electronic Waste

Payment System will capture andmanage about 200 million pounds

o computer monitors and televi-

sions.10 Te nal disposition o

the majority o electronic waste is

unknown, though some portion is

shipped overseas or recycling.11

Worker and environmental saety

o electronic recycling abroad

typically lags ar behind that o

Caliornia.12

High levels o diox-ins, urans, PCBs and fame retar-

dants have been measured in the

soil, air and water near electronic

recycling sites in China, as well as

in the breast milk o women living

near these sites.13

Responding to similar problems

with electronic waste, the European

Union enacted legislation in 2005

that reuires electronics producers

to tae greater responsibilit or the

ull lieccle o their products see

bo p. 7. In 2006, the E.U. banned

the use o lead, cadmium, mercur

and other toic substances in all

electronics sold in the E.U.14 Tese

policies are epected to encourage

producers to improe the health and

enironmental saet o their prod-

ucts at the point o design.

plastic WastE

Caliornias municipal governments

are grappling with a growing tide

o plastic waste. An estimated six

to nine billion pounds o plastic

entered Caliornias landlls in

2003, or about 150-250 pounds per

person.16 Only 3% o plastic waste

is recycled (Figure 1).17 Plastic com-

prises about 15% o materials inCaliornia landlls, by volume, and

its relative percentage is increas-

ing as it displaces glass, metal and

wood in products and packaging.18

Tere is growing contamination o

the Pacic Ocean by plastic debris

(see box).

air and WatEr

contaMination

According to the ederal oxics

Release Inventory (RI), large

businesses in Caliornia emitted

a total o 158 million pounds o

toxic substances into air, water and

waste streams in 2005, the latest

year with available data.19 Tese

include chemicals that are known

or suspected to cause cancer, birth

deects and damage to the human

nervous system.20

In 1989, howeer, the Congressio-

nal Oce o echnolog Assessment

estimated that the RI represents

onl about 5% b weight o total

chemical releases b U.S. business-

es.21 According to this estimate,

the total industrial chemical emis-

sion rate in Caliornia or 2005 is

3.2 billion pounds.22 Additional

mechanisms are needed to identiand prioritie emissions o greatest

concern to human health and the

enironment.

In addition to industrial chemi-

cals, 190 million pounds o pesticide

actie ingredients were released into

the enironment in Caliornia in

2006, along with millions o pounds

o inert ingredients, some o which

include nown human and eniron-

mental toicants.23 Pesticides used

on arms and roadwas fow into

laes, riers and bas, and leach

into Caliornias groundwater.24

While the public perception is that plastics are recycled, in act, plastic recovery hashovered around 3 percent, while plastic waste generation grows steadily.Source: U.S. EPA, 200515

FIGURE 1. PLASIC WASE GENERAION vS. PLASIC RECyCLING

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

MILLION

TONS

YEAR

RECOVERY

GENERATION

California DTSC estimates that 61

of85 o the states largest hazardous

waste sites are leaking into ground-

water. O 51 sites inspected or

groundwater intrusion, 94% were

ound to present, a major threat to

human health or the environment.25


14/28

12

c H E M i c a l s i n p E o p l E

Te presence o industrial chemicals

and pollutants in people is not a

necessary consequence o an advanced

industrialied societ.

The polybrominated diphenyl ethers

(PBDEs), a class of persistent and

bioaccumulative chemical ame retar-

dants, are added to many consumer

products, including urniture, comput-ers and televisions. PBDEs are found

in humans and wildlie around the

world; over the last 30 years, their

levels have increased about 100-fold in

human blood, breast milk, and tissues.7

Women in California have some of the

highest levels of PBDEs measured in

breast milk, levels which are approach-

ing those associated with adverse

health eects in experimental animals.8

These effects include permanent

learning and memory defcits in the

ospring o exposed animals, changesto male and emale reproductive

structure and unction, and low thyroid

hormone levels, which impairs etal

brain development.9

Using a persistent, bioaccumulative

substance in products designed to

come into close contact with people is

inherently problematic. If asked to do

so, chemical producers will prioritize

the development o more appropriate

ame retardant technologies.

CASE: FLAME REARDANSChemicals that resist breadown

can remain in the enironment or

decades, or een centuries.4 Man

o these enironmentall persistent

chemicals are er slowl metabo-

lied, with the result that the

increase in concentration bioaccu-

mulate in the ood chain. Although

some o these chemicals, such as

PCBs and DD, hae not been used

or decades, the continue to be

ound in children born toda.5

bmve ee

e e e x

Man persistent and bioaccumula-

tie chemicals are nown to be toic

PBs to humans and ecosstems.

PBs are o particular concern

because both their presence in

people and their associated health

efects could be elt or generations.6

Despite these concerns, PBs

are still in widespread use. Man

organochlorines, or eample, are

Human breast milk, umbilical cord

blood, and adult tissues contain

over one hundred chemicals and pol-

lutants (see able 1). Some o these

substances are known to be toxic at

low levels; some are increasing in

concentration in sampled tissues.1

Most snthetic chemicals identi-

ed in people are new to humans

and the enironment, haing been

introduced since World War II.2

Teir ull implications or human

health are unnown, particularl

or deeloping etuses, inants and

children.

ove e he

hem hve ee mee

ee

In 2005, the U.S. Centers or Dis-

ease Control and Preention CDC

looed or, and ound, 148 chemi-

cals in the blood and urine o a

representatie sample o the U.S.

population.3 Te list o industrial

chemicals identied in humans

is liel to grow as inestigators

epand the set o tested chemicals.

M hem e he

evme me

hm m


15/28

c H E M i c a l s i n p E o p l E

addressing the undamental princi-

ples o chemical and product design,

new green chemistr policies could

result in similar benets, while

aoiding the problems associated

with chemical-b-chemical bans.

used in solents, pesticides and a

ariet o common household mate-

rials. A 1994 consensus statement

b the American Public Health

Association concluded that,

Virtually all organochlorines that

have been studied exhibit at least

one o a range o serious toxic

eects, such as endocrine dys-

unction, developmental impair-

ment, birth deects, reproductive

dysunction and inertility,

immunosuppression and cancer,

oten at extremely low doses, and

many are recognized as signif-

cant workplace hazards.15

dee ee, e

we.

While it is nown that man o the

chemicals and substances appear-

ing in peoples bodies are toic, and

that the leels o some o these

substances are increasing, it is still

unclear eactl how people are

eposed and what the long-term

conseuences or human health

ma be.16

Because o their potential to

persist or generations, howeer,

bioaccumulatie and persistent

substances should be phased out

o commercial use, beginning with

those that are nown to be toic.

Preentie action o this tpe is

warranted, despite the uncertainties.

A case in point is the elimination

o lead rom gasoline, a landmar

ictor in preenting neurological

damage to children. Tis measure

produced a dramatic decline in

blood lead leels or the entire

population, and children hae been

the most obious beneciaries.17 B

Breast milk contains many indus-

trial chemicals, including methylene

chloride, toluene, trichloroethylene

and xylene.18 While on balance

breast milk protects inant health,

the potential eects o even minute

amounts o chemical contaminants in

breast milk are o serious concern.19

Over one hundred synthetic chemicals and pollutants have been detected in umbilical cord blood, human breast milk and theblood, urine and tissues of adults. Many of these substances are known or probable human carcinogens, reproductive or neuro-logical toxicants, or all three. Sources: LaKind et al. 2004, CDC 2005, EWG 2005, unless otherwise noted.14

ABLE 1. SELECED ExAMPLES OF OxIC SUBSANCES FOUND IN UMBILICAL CORD BLOOD,BREAS MILk AND ADUL ISSUES

Contaminant Examples of known sources How people are exposed

Volatile Organic Compounds

Naphthalene10 Vehicle exhaust, deodorizers, paints, glues Outdoor and indoor air, drinking water, workplaces

Perchloroethylene Dry cleaning solvent, degreasing products Treated clothing, proximity to dry cleaners, workplaces

Benzene Gasoline, glues, detergents, vehicle exhaust Outdoor air, workplaces

Agricultural Products

Organophosphates Pesticides, ea & tick pet products Food, proximity to agriculture, feld work, indoor air

Atrazine Herbicide Food, water, proximity to agriculture, feld work

Persistent Organic Pollutants

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs)11

Flame retardants in urniture and electronics Food, indoor air and dust

Dioxins & Furans Byproduct of waste incineration, paper mills,manuacturing

Food, outdoor air, drinking water

PFOA/PFOS12 Non-stick and stain-resistant coatings Consumer products, ood, water, workplaces

Plastics Components

Phthalates Cosmetics, detergents, household cleaners,vinyl materials, lacquers

Skin contact, indoor air, ood, sot plastics

Bisphenol A13 Hard plastic containers, canned ood linings Food, water

Heavy Metals

Cadmium Batteries, fertilizer production, wasteincineration, plastics, metal coatings

Food, air, water, workplaces

Lead Paint, electronics, batteries, ossil uels Toys, food, soil, drinking water, workplaces


16/28

14

trations compared to the general

public.3

Immigrants, minorities, and

lower-income groups in Caliorniaare more liel to eperience the

highest leels o eposure, both as

residents and as worers. Calior-

nia adopted an Intra-Agenc Eni-

ronmental Justice Strateg in 2004

in recognition o the ineuitable

distribution o toic eposures.4

cHildrEns HEaltH

Despite unanswered uestionsabout the relationship between

chemical eposures and human

health, earl childhood deelop-

ment is clearl characteried b

windows o ulnerabilit to these

eposures.

Tere is some urgenc, then, or

Caliornia to identi, prioritie

and reduce the commercial use o

chemicals to which children are

most liel eposed and to which

diseases or disorders are most

closel lined.

Evvg kwege,

e hm

Te historical record illustrates

that oercondence in the saet

o industrial substances can lead to

ears o preentable health damage.

Specic blood leels o mercur, or

eample, were rst correlated with

health eects in children oer 30ears ago, but research since then

has reealed that eects in act

occur at leels 1,000 times lower

than those originall thought to

be sae.5

Likewise, in 1997 the EPA estab-

lished standards or airborne partic-

ulate matter (PM) based primarily

on hospital admissions and mortal-

ity data.6

It is now recognized thatPM can also contribute to cardiovas-

cular disease, lung cancer, pre-term

birth, low birthweight, and asthma

exacerbations.7

Compared to our understand-

ing o the hazards o mercury and

PM, knowledge about the long-term

health efects o most industrial

chemicals is in its inancy. It is

thereore rational to take preven-

tive action based on early indicators

o harm, recognizing that current

science may underestimate the ull

extent o health efects attribut-

able to industrial chemicals and

pollutants.8

Heh ee

Rising incidence o some cancers,

c H i l d r E n a n d W o r K E r s

Chemical exposures can have

proound implications or human

health. People are exposed to

industrial chemicals and pollutants

in workplaces and homes, and via

air, water, ood, and contaminated

waste streams.

Although chemical eposures

are releant to the general popula-

tion, two groups children and

worers are particularl ulner-

able. Een low leels o snthetic

chemicals can disrupt the rapidl

deeloping phsiolog o inants

and children.1 Man worers,

depending on their occupation,

are eposed to more highl toic

substances and in greater concen-

The vast majority o chemicals

to which children are commonly

exposed have never been examined

or their long-term eects on the

developing brain.2


17/28

c H i l d r E n a nd W o r K E r s

FIGURE 1. RENDS IN REPRODUCIvE HE ALH AND CHILDHOOD CANCERS, UNI ED SAES

Hypospadias

RATEPER10,0

00BIRTHS

YEAR YEAR YEAR

40

35

30

25

20

0

1 97 0 1 97 3 1 97 6 1 97 9 1 98 2 1 98 5 1 98 8 1 99 1

200

150

100

50

0

COUNT(x105/ml)

Sperm Counts

1930 1945 1960 1975 1990

30

40

20

10

0

PERCENTCHANGE

Incidence per 100,000 children of Leukemiasand Central Nervous System Tumors

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2004

The incidence o certain pediatric and reproductive health disorders is on the rise, including hypospadias, reduced sperm count(variable by region), and the childhood cancers that are most commonly linked to chemical exposures. Source: Sharpe and

Irvine, 2004, Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program 2004. 17

Increased susceptibility: Spe-

cic windows o ulnerabilit

occur throughout etal, inant

and child deelopment, during

which snthetic chemicals can

disrupt precise phsiological

eents see bo. Tese include

the cascade o hormone signals

that guide reproductie deelop-

ment and the connections that

asthma, and deelopmental disor-

ders ma be due in part to chemical

eposures, particularl in oung

children Figure 1.9 A ariet o

male reproductie abnormali-

ties ma also be lined to in uteroeposures to certain pesticides or

endocrine disrupting chemicals.10

Similarl, recent studies in Cali-

ornias arming communities hae

reported higher rates o learning

diculties in the children o women

who were more highl eposed to cer-

tain pesticides during pregnanc.11

Man chemicals once considered

sae are now recognied as haard-

ous to the deeloping etus and child.

In assessing the state o nowledge,

a 2007 consensus statement o the

International Conerence on Fetal

Programming and Developmental

Toxicity concluded that, preention

eorts against toic eposures to

enironmental chemicals should

ocus on protecting the embro, etus

and small child as highl ulnerable

populations. 12

iee ve

Eposures to industrial chemicals

are potentiall more harmul during

etal and child deelopment than

during adulthood because o three

primar actors:

Disproportionate exposure:

Biomonitoring studies oten nd

higher leels o chemical con-

taminants in children than in

adults.13 Tis ma be due to di-

erences in metabolism, childrens

close contact with soil and dust,

or because, pound-or-pound,

inants and toddlers eat, drin

and breathe more than adults.14

Coming generations will carr the

greatest burden o industrial chemical

contamination. Caliornia has the

opportunit to turn the tide on thissignicant public health problem.

A growing body of evidence indicates

that certain synthetic chemicals com-

monly ound in consumer products

can disrupt the endocrine system, a

complex network o hormones thataect the development o all organs in

the human body. Even small altera-

tions in hormone levels by endocrine

disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can affect

development o the bodys neuro-

logical, reproductive and metabolic

systems.18 These alternations can pro-

duce permanent changes, aecting the

bodys responses to ood, chemicals

and hormones even later in lie.19

Early research suggests that this

reprogramming may contribute to

obesity, pre-diabetic insulin resistance

and breast and prostate cancers.20

Strikingly, evidence rom animal studies

suggests that the effects of EDCs are

heritable; that is, passed on through

as many as our generations ater an

animal is briey exposed during fetal

development.21

ENDOCRINE DISRUPORS:ALERING HE BODySSIGNALS


18/28

16

nentl preentable. As it stands,

howeer, Caliornia is unable to

realie the benets o preentionbecause o gaps in nowledge about

the toic eects o chemicals, the

scope o worplace eposures, and

the etent o the diseases the

contribute to.

Toxicity: Te current document

or communicating chemical hazard

inormation to workers, the Mate-

rial Saety Data Sheet (MSDS)

requires little to no inormation

on the health efects o chemicals

and is widely recognized as inade-

occur among billions o neurons

in the deeloping brain and ner-

ous sstem.15 Te blood-brain

barrier remains relatiel perme-

able well into the rst ear o lie

and allows passage o snthetic

chemicals rom the bloodstreamdirectl to the inants deelop-

ing brain and nerous sstem.16

Lifelong impacts: Health eects

that occur rom earl eposures

hae a longer period o time

to deelop compared to those

occurring later. Eposure to een

low doses o industrial chemicals

during critical periods o etal

and earl child deelopment maproduce health eects that con-

tinue through adulthood.22

occupational HEaltH

Because man industrial processes

inole close contact with haard-

ous substances, worers are dispro-

portionatel aected b chemicall

induced diseases.23

In 2004, an estimated 200,000

Caliornians were diagnosed with

a preentable chronic disease

attributable to chemical eposures

in the worplace; another 4,400

died prematurel as a result. Tesediseases produced an estimated

$1.4 billion in direct and indirect

costs.24 Caliornias agricultural

worers and arming communities

are also disproportionatel aected

b both acute and chronic eects o

pesticide eposures.25

a ee e

ee

Occupational diseases resulting

rom chemical eposures are emi-

Between 1995 and 2003, California auto repair workers were exposed to hexane, a well-known neurotoxic chemical found in automotive

brake cleaners and many other commercial products. In 2000, several workers developed a neurological disorder that caused decreased

unction o their arms and legs.27 Each year, millions of cans of hexane-based products were sold in California as an alternative to chlori-

nated solvents, which were also hazardous but were more heavily regulated in the state.28

The use of hexane, which continues today, highlights problems that are universal to current chemical and product management:

Uncontrolled use: Hexane was introduced without restrictions into the California market and used in higher volume and with fewerworker protections than anticipated by manuacturers.29

Disproportionate impact: The most highly exposed workers were those in entry-level jobs, held mainly by Latino and Asian immigrants.

Lack of authority: Agencies lacked the authority to obtain sales data from manufacturers. As a result, they could neither assess the scope

of the health threat nor identify specic workers at risk. Agencies also lacked the authority to phase-out the use of these products.

Regrettable substitution: The phase-out of chlorinated solvents, though appropriate, occurred without an effective strategy for manag-

ing substitutes, resulting in the introduction o a new hazard, in the orm o hexane.

Barriers to safer alternatives: Safer, water-based cleaners were available but appeared more expensive than hexane-based products,

whose true costs were externalized to the public. These costs included worker diseases, air pollution, and the disposal of 6 million

aerosol cans o hazardous product waste each year into public landflls.30

A comprehensive chemicals policy would simultaneously address this full set of problems by pairing the regulation of known hazards

directly with the evaluation and adoption o saer alternatives.

HExANE: A NEUROOxIC CHEMICAL IN WIDESPREAD USE

Better inormation on chemical

toicit, worplace eposures and

occupational disease is needed to

reduce worplace haards and createincenties to deelop inherentl

saer technologies, inormed b the

principles o green chemistr.


19/28

c H i l d r E n a nd W o r K E r s

In 2004, more than 4,000 Calior-

nians died prematurely rom chronic

diseases attributable to workplace

chemical exposures.35

quate.26 Te health efects o chemi-

cal mixtures, which account or the

great majority o workplace expo-

sures, are almost entirely unknown.

Exposure: Tere is no reuire-

ment or consistentl tracing

the tpe or etent o worplace

chemical eposures, and regula-

tions to control those eposures are

inadeuate. Tere are Permissible

Eposure Limits PELs, or just 7%

o the nearl 3,000 high produc-

The standard regulatory mechanism for protecting workers from chemical exposures is

the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL), which establishes an exposure level considered

safe for most workers, based on a 40-hour workweek. While California has established

688 PELs (compared to 453 federal PELs) this represents only a small fraction of the

hazardous chemicals and mixtures to which workers are potentially exposed.31

In December 2007, Californias Ofce of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment(OEHHA) identied workplace chemicals listed under the states Proposition 65 as

known to cause cancer or reproductive/developmental toxicity.32 Of this set of chemi-

cals, OEHHA found that:

PELs have not been established for 44 workplace carcinogens

Of the workplace carcinogens with established PELs, 62 are not regulated specically

as occupational carcinogens

Risk of cancer for six workplace chemicals is estimated to be greater than one in ten

for workers exposed at levels equivalent to the PEL

60% of workplace chemicals suspected of causing cancer or reproductive harm are

High Production Volume chemicals (produced or imported at more than one million

pounds per year in the U.S.)

WORkERS ARE INADEqUAELy PROECED FROM CHEMICAL HAzARDS

Green chemistr oers man promises,

including substantial reductions in

the enironmental ootprint o man

chemical processes, improements in

the health and saet o those eposed

to chemicals, and enhanced securit at

acilities with haardous materials.

RAND Science and Technology Policy Institute 36

tion olume HPv chemicals in the

U.S. those produced or imported at

more than one million pounds per

ear.33 Uncontrolled eposures are

more liel to occur or chemicals

lacing PELs see bo. Most epo-

sure inormation collected b the

Caliornia Diision o Occupational

Saet and Health DOSH is not

used to inorm preention.

Disease: Te long lag time

between eposure and diagnosis

maes it dicult to distinguish

occupational rom non-occu-

pational diseases.34 Tere are

minimal resources dedicated to

occupational disease sureillance

or regulator control.

Gee hem e

wke heh

Better inormation on toicit,

worplace eposure and occupa-

tional disease will proide agen-

cies and emploers with additional

incenties to deelop inherentl

saer technologies, inormed b

principles o green chemistr. Gen-

erating this inormation is a coreelement o chemicals polic and

reuires closing the data gap.

Given the saety gap, ensuring

the health o Caliornias workorce

will also require an efective legal

ramework that improves agency

capacity to respond to workplace

hazards. Green chemistry will pro-

vide the technical basis or produc-

ers to develop saer alternatives to

the chemical hazards o greatest

concern or the health o Caliornia

workers.


20/28

18

E c o n o M i c c o n s E Q u E n c E s

As it currently operates, the U.S.

market or chemicals and products

externalizes to the public many o

the costs o health and environ-

mental damage associated with

industrial chemicals, their products

and wastes. Tese include direct and

indirect costs o chemically related

diseases among workers, as well as a

portion o childhood diseases linked

to environmental contaminants.

State and local goernmentsincur the costs o managing haard-

ous and product wastes, cleaning up

In 2004, preventable diseases resulting rom workplace chemical exposures costCaliornia insurers, employers, workers, and their amilies a total o $1.4 billion inboth direct medical costs and indirect costs, including lost wages and beneits andlost years o productive lie. Source: Leigh, et al., in preparation.2

FIGURE 1. DISEASE CASES AND COSS ARIBUABLE O CHEMICALExPOSURES IN HE WORkPLACE, CALIFORNIA 2004

Cases

Costs ($millions)

Disease Hospitalizations Deaths Direct medical IndirectCancer 113,999 8,700 3,845 $617.2 $620.5

COPD 42,606 1,145 361 $42.6 $42.8

Asthma 45,856 460 11 $25.4 $7.5

Pneumo-conioses

1,710 171 132 $15.3 $21.0

Chronicrenal ailure

2,854 128 21 $4.9 $5.7

Parkinsonsdisease

699 27 37 $1.1 $1.3

Total 207,724 10,631 4,407 $706.5 $698.8

TOTAL $1,405.3

In 2004, an estimated 240,000 cases o preventable childhood disease in Caliorniawere attributable to chemical substances in ood, water, air, soil, the home andcommunity. These cases resulted in approximately $1.2 billion in both directmedical costs and indirect costs related to premature death, lost school days, stateservices and other actors. Source: Leigh, et al., in preparation. 3

FIGURE 2. CHILDHOOD DISEASE CASES AND COS S ARIBUABLE OENvIRONMENAL ExPOSURES, CALIFORNIA 2004

Cases

Costs ($millions)

Disease Hospitalizations Deaths Direct medical Indirect

Asthma 237,363 3,952 8 $144.8 $91.7

Cancer 690 156 15 $8.3 $28.3

Mental

retardation

565 0 0 $136.9 $601.4

Cerebralpalsy

137 0 0 $28.1 $141.0

Total 238,755 4,108 23 $318.1 $862.3

TOTAL $1,180.4

In 2004, direct medical costs o chem-

ical and pollution-related diseases

among children and workers totaled

over one billion dollars in Caliornia.1

New policies can dramatically reduce

these costs, as well as the broader

social and economic impacts o the

years o uture productive lie lost.


21/28

E c o no M i c c o ns E Q u E nc E s

contaminated sites, and contending

with the long-term implications oair pollution, water pollution and

ecosstem degradation.

Some o these costs are reported

here; others hae not et been uan-

tied. Because o nowledge gaps in

chemical toicities, eposure path-

was and associated diseases, these

gures liel underestimate the true

rates Figures 1 and 2.

tHE cost o Hazardous

WastE

Te state o Caliornia, local

goernments, tapaers and busi-

nesses all pa to manage haardous

wastes generated b the manu-

acture and use o chemicals and

products.

In scal ear 2006-07, Calior-

nias Department o oic Sub-stances Control spent $131 million

to monitor and clean-up haardous

waste sites, manage haardous

waste, and preent pollution. Tese

costs represent a 42% increase oer

Fy 1996-97.5

Each ear, legac landlls his-

toricall contaminated areas that

include some designated Superund

sites cost Caliornia companies,

their insurers and tapaers $30million in groundwater monitor-

ing epenses alone.6 Tis economic

burden is projected to continue in

perpetuit and ultimatel transer

to the state.

Using hazardous chemicals

is expensive or businesses;

the liecycle costs o managing

chemicals, including transport,

handling, disposal and workerprotection can range rom one to

ten times the purchase cost.7 It

is necessary to account or these

costs when evaluating the eco-

nomic benets o green chemistry

alternatives.

tHE cost o product

WastE

Municipal goernments are grap-pling with the costs o manag-

ing a growing stream o product

waste. In 2003, the latest earor which data are aailable, local

goernments incurred the costs o

handling 6 to 9 billion pounds o

plastic waste, or about 160 to 260

pounds per Caliornia resident.8

Onl 3% o plastic waste is reccled

into secondar uses.9

Local goernments also dealt

with 300 million to 1.6 billion

pounds o electronic waste enteringlandlls in 2003, on top o nearl

150 million pounds o household

haardous waste.10

Green chemistr policies can

reliee the growing economic pres-

sures created b haardous and

product waste and can reduce the

burden o disease, improe the

protabilit o businesses, and pro-

ide the job opportunities neces-sar or a sustainable econom.

Green chemistry technologies can

contribute to a sustainable econom,

relieing the economic pressures on

state and local goernments, improingthe protabilit o businesses using saer

materials, proiding job opportunities,

and protecting human health and the

enironment.

A full accounting of the economic impact of pesticide use and regulation must consider

indirect eects such as ood saety, health consequences or workers and agricultural

communities, pesticide resistance and environmental damage, such as groundwater

contamination and loss of wildlife, benecial organisms and pollinators. This analysis has

not been undertaken in Caliornia; however, an estimate based on a model developed

or the U.S. as a whole places the health and environmental costs associated with com-

mercial pesticide use between $870 million and $1,300 million each year. 11

HEALH AND ECOSySEM COSS OF PESIC IDE USE

Plastic debris on beaches and in the

ocean threatens Caliornias $46 billion

ocean-dependent tourism-oriented

economy.4


22/28

20

Oer the net 5 to 10 ears, green

chemical innoation could be a

signicant source o competitie

adantage or companies

manuacturing chemicals used in

consumer products.

European Social Investment Forum1, 2005

s o l u t i o n s

Although some leading businesses

have adopted sustainable prac-

tices, the vast potential o green

chemistry remains untapped. A

comprehensive chemicals policy

should include inormation-based

strategies, direct regulation,

extended producer responsibility,

technical assistance, market-

based incentives and public

support or research and educa-

tion. Tese strategies can position

Caliornia to become a national

and global leader in green chemis-

try innovation.

closE tHE data Gap:

Geee fe m

ee, me

gee he ve

eve

Disclosure o hazard inormation will

enable Caliornias businesses, con-

sumers and policymakers to choose

the alternatives that provide maxi-

mum protection o human health

and the environment. Tis inorma-

tion should improve the prospects

or businesses seeking to market

green chemistry alternatives.

In addition to haard inorma-

tion, public agencies need chemi-

cal tracing data to characterie

human eposure potential. Haard

and tracing data together will help

agencies identi and prioritie

substances o greatest concern see

bo.

Geeg he

Chemical producers and prod-

uct manuacturers should be

reuired to proide haard and

tracing data as a condition o

use or sale in Caliornia. Chemi-

cal and product distributors

should also be reuired to con-

tribute tracing data.

An eternal independent panel

should dene and periodicall

update a set o haard traits to

proide a scientic basis or deci-

sion- maing.

Caliornia should identi the

best aailable toicit testing

methods and support research

and deelopment o new

methods.

oicit testing methods and

reporting o results should pro-

duce consistent data, permitting

comparison o chemical haards.

Producers should reimburse

tapaers or the costs o Cali-

ornias chemical management

program


23/28

s o l u t i o ns

Eg q

Caliornia should proide oer-

sight to ensure the completeness,

ualit and credibilit o haard

and tracing data submitted b

producers.

Caliornia should adopt the

highest standards or indepen-

dence o eperts adising the

state, modeled on International

Agenc or Research on Cancer

standards.2

Haard data must not be con-

sidered condential business

inormation.

ceg emghe

Caliornia should establish a

standardied ormat or sub-

mission o haard and tracing

data and mae that inormation

publicl accessible online.

o improe understanding o the

lins between eposures and dis-

ease, haard and tracing data

should be integrated with e

Caliornia programs, including

the biomonitoring program, the

Enironmental Health racingprogram, the Enironmental

Protection Indicators or Calior-

nia project, occupational disease

sureillance programs, and the

states disease registries.3

closE tHE saEty Gap:

ae kw h

o close the saet gap, Caliornia

agencies need new tools to e-

cientl identi, prioritie, and miti-

gate chemical haards. Tis reuires

a new legal ramewor or agen-

cies to act on reasonable grounds

or concern, een where complete

haard or tracing data is not et

aailable.

pg e

Te state should create a tiered

catalog o chemicals that cat-egories substances according to

their relatie haards. Priorit

should be placed on chemicals o

greatest concern to the most ul-

nerable populations, including

pregnant women, oung children

and worers.

Lists deeloped b Canada and

the European Union can pro-

ide a starting point; howeer,

Caliornias catalog should be

tailored to refect chemical

uses specic to the state.5

Te cataloging sstem should

be responsie to the intro-

duction o new substances,

changes in chemical produc-

tion or sales olume, the emer-

gence o new health eects

data, and adances in haard

characteriation.

Caliornia has the resources to re-

tool the chemical production sstem

into one that continuall deelops

cleaner technologies and protects itsgreatest assets: health people, ital

ecosstems and a thriing econom.

Hazard:

Characterize the potential that a

chemical is:

Bioaccumulative or persistent in the

environment

Genotoxic, carcinogenic or terato-

genic

Toxic to adult or developing repro-

ductive, neurological, endocrine or

immune systems

A respiratory sensitizer

Acutely or chronically toxic to theheart, liver, kidney, bone marrow,

eye or skin

Toxic to aquatic organisms

Tracking:

Establish a roadmap of chemicals pro-

duced or sold in Caliornia based on a

lie cycle approach including:

Sales volume and distribution

Industrial and consumer uses

Environmental releases

Disposal practices

DAA NEEDS4

Caliornia should invest in education

and technical training to prepare a

workorce capable o designing and

producing the sustainable materials,manuacturing processes and prod-

ucts that are anticipated to play a

key role in emerging global markets.


24/28

22

Te chemical cataloguing pro-

cess should not dela epedient

action when a chemicals haard

potential is nown or a iable

saer alternatie is aailable.

Mgg kw h,

g e eve

Te introduction and con-

tinued use o chemicals o

particular concern should be

subject to agenc reiew and

approal. Where no saer iable

alternatie eists, the distribu-

tion and use o such chemicals

should be subject to appropri-

ate controls. I a iable saer

alternatie eists, its adoption

should be mandated and the

chemical o concern should be

phased out.

Caliornia should reuire compa-

nies to periodicall ealuate the

aailabilit o inherentl saer

chemicals and processes and

report on their ealuations.

Te producer should assume the

burden o establishing that a

chemical is not o particular con-cern, or that no iable alterna-

tie is aailable.

imvg e

e

Producers should tae responsibil-

it or the ull lieccle costs o their

chemicals and products, including

production, use, releases, and dis-

posal or re-use.

Te Caliornia Integrated Waste

Management Boards Frame-

wor or Etended Producer

Responsibilit should be imple-

mented.8

closE tHE tEcHnoloGy

Gap:

s gee hem

eeh, e

meme

Correcting the data and saet gaps

will realign the maret to support

inestment in green chemistr

products and technologies. In

addition, Caliornia can close the

technolog gap b supporting green

chemistr research, education and

implementation.

p s reeh

Publicl unded basic scienceresearch has underpinned Calior-

nias biotechnolog, pharmaceuti-

cal, and electronics industries.

Tere is no euialent support or

green chemistr. Publicl unded

research should:

Identi the chemical inor-

mation needed b businesses,

agencies and consumers to mae

inormed decisions, and how

this inormation could be most

eectiel communicated.

Deelop tools or accuratel

and epedientl ealuating

the health and enironmental

eects o chemicals, products

and mitures, including the use

o high-throughput testing and

predictie toicolog methods.9

Deelop assessment tools or

identiing saer alternaties.

Deelop methods or ealuating

eposures to chemical mitures

and the cumulatie eects o

chronic, simultaneous eposure

to multiple enironmental con-

taminants.

Californias energy efciency policies have attracted over 100 clean energy technology

companies to the state.6 Investments in the states clean energy industry are anticipated

to seed 52,000 to 114,000 new jobs statewide by 2010.7

By supporting economic development in the clean energy sector, California stands to

gain in several ways:

Creating new opportunities for investment in 21st-century technologies Providing new employment opportunities, including in Californias low-income urban

areas

Reducing energy costs for residents and businesses

Reducing the states environmental footprint

A new chemicals policy that supports green chemistry could produce similar benets,

opening new business and employment opportunities in saer chemicals and products

while also improving human health and environmental protection.

BUILDING CALIFORNIAS GREEN ECONOMy

Caliornia can provide technical

assistance to small businesses,

helping them make the transition

rom concept to commercial applica-

tion o cleaner technologies that

incorporate the principles o green

chemistry.


25/28

s o l u t i o ns

E g

Education in green chemistr and

sustainabilit can ensure a silled

wororce. It should be integrated

across academic disciplines and

included in the curriculum rom

elementar through graduate-leeleducation.

Caliornias colleges and unier-

sities should deelop proessional

and ocational training programs

in sustainabilit, including green

chemistr.

teh ae

ieve

Caliornias public agencies and uni-ersities should collaborate to assist

companies as the:

ransition rom concept to com-

mercial applications o sustain-

able practices

Identi the riss and epenses

associated with new green chem-

istr technologies

Moe green chemistr technolo-

gies rom the laborator to ull-

scale production

ransition green chemistr tech-

nologies rom niche marets to

broad-scale commercial success.

Caliornia can support adoption o

green chemistr technologies b:

Conducting demonstration proj-

ects o best business practices

Deeloping assessment tools or

identiing suitable alternaties

to chemicals o concern

Deeloping design standards and

technical specications

Assessing regulator obstacles

to innoation o saer chemicals

and processes.

ie e eve

Caliornia should deelop techni-

cal criteria to dene the attri-

butes that uali a chemical or

process as a saer alternatie.

Tese criteria should preent

shiting o haards rom onepopulation or enironmental

medium to another.

Caliornia should consider

establishing a list o iable saer

alternaties as a basis or phas-

ing out haardous products and

processes.

Mkee eve

argeted maret-based incentiescan also accelerate the adoption o

green chemistr. Tese include:

A state procurement sstem or

preerred chemicals and products

Green chemistr certication

and labeling standards

Low-interest loans or inest-

ment in green chemistr tech-

nologies

a credits or meeting haard

reduction targets and or improe-

ments in health and eniron-

mental perormance that eceed

standard industr practice

Recognition awards or leading

industries.

caliornia is poisEd to

MEEt tHE cHallEnGE

A modern, comprehensie chemi-

cals polic will address Caliorniaspressing health, enironmental and

economic problems associated with

the management o chemicals and

products. Such a polic will pro-

mote the science, technolog, and

commercial applications o green

chemistr: the design, production

and use o chemicals, processes and

products that are saer or humans

and the enironment.Building new productie capac-

it in green chemistr will sup-

port a ibrant econom, open new

opportunities or inestment and

emploment, and protect human

health and the states natural

resources. Gien Caliornias unpar-

alleled innoatie potential and its

scientic, technical and nancial

resources, the state is well-posi-

tioned to become a national leader

in green chemistr innoation.

Caliornias ability to link economic

opportunity with human health and

environmental protection will be a

cornerstone or a sustainable uture.


26/28

Ellen Alon, MD, PhDAdjunct ProessorSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Richard Ambrose, PhDProessor o Enironmental HealthSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Richard P. Appelbaum, PhDProessor and Director, Sociolog, Global &International StudiesUC Santa Barbara

Robin Baer, MPHDirector

Labor Occupational Health ProgramUC Berele

Roshan Bastani, PhDProessor Health SericesSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Michael N. Bates, PhDAdjunct Proessor o EpidemiologSchool o Public HealthUC Berele

Tomas R. Belin, PhDProessor o BiostaticsSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Deborah Bennett, PhDAssistant ProessorPublic Health SciencesUC Dais

Eric Biber, JD, MEScAssistant ProessorSchool o LawUC Berele

Paul Blanc, MD, MSPHProessor o Occupational andEnironmental MedicineUC San Francisco

Asa Bradman, PhD, MS

Associate DirectorCenter or Childrens Enironmental HealthResearchUC Berele

Lester Breslow, MD, MPHProessor and Dean EmeritusSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Richard Brown, PhDProessor and Director o Health SericesSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Carole H. Browner, PhDProessorInstitute or Neuroscience & Human BehaiorUC Los Angeles

Alan R. Bucpitt, PhDProessor o Molecular BiosciencesUC Dais

Ann E. Carlson, JDProessorSchool o LawUC Los Angeles

Marie-Francoise Chesselet, MD, PhDProessor and Chair, Department oNeurobiolog

Geen School o MedicineUC Los Angeles

Arthur Cho, PhDProessor EmeritusEnironmental Health SciencesUC Los Angeles

Michael Collins, PhDProessor o Enironmental Health SciencesSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Charles J. Corbett, PhDProessorAnderson School o ManagementUC Los Angeles

Randall Crane, PhDProessorSchool o Public AairsUC Los Angeles

Carl F. Cranor, PhDProessor o PhilosophUC Rierside

Fran W. Dais, PhDProessorBren School o Enironmental Science andManagementUC Santa Barbara

Ralph Delno, MD, PhD

Associate Proessor o EpidemiologSchool o MedicineUC Irine

Linda Delp, MPH, PhDDirectorLabor Occupational Saet and Health ProgramUC Los Angeles

Daniel Dohan, PhDAssistant Adjunct ProessorHealth Polic Studies, Anthropolog,Histor and Social MedicineUC San Francisco

Patric Dowling, MD, MPHProessor and Chair, Dept o Famil MedicineGeen School o MedicineUC Los Angeles

Daid A. Eastmond, PhDProessor o Enironmental oicologUC Rierside

Curtis Echert, PhDProessor o Enironmental Health andMolecular oicologSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Ruus Edwards, PhDAssistant Proessor o Epidemiolog

UC Irine

Mar D. Eisner, MD, MPHAssociate Proessor o Medicine and AnesthesiaUC San Francisco

Brenda Esenai, PhDProessor and DirectorCenter or Childrens Enironmental HealthResearchUC Berele

Daniel A. Farber, JDProessorSchool o LawUC Berele

Fadi A. Fathallah, PhDAssociate ProessorBiological and Agricultural EngineeringUC Dais

Julia Faucett, RN, PhDProessorSchool o NursingUC San Francisco

Barbara J. Finlason-Pitts, PhDDistinguished Proessor o ChemistrUC Irine

Richard M. Fran, JDEecutie DirectorCaliornia Center or Enironmental Law & Polic

UC Berele

Ine Fung, PhDProessor o Atmospheric ScienceCo-Director, Berele Institute o theEnironmentUC Berele

Asho J. Gadgil, PhDSenior ScientistEnironmental Energ echnologiesLawrence Berele National Laborator

siGnatoriEs*

John R. Balmes, MDProessor and DirectorCenter or Occupational and EnironmentalHealthUC Berele, Dais and San Francisco

Dean Baker, MD, MPHProessor and DirectorCenter or Occupational and EnironmentalHealthUC Irine

John R. Froines, PhDProessor and DirectorCenter or Occupational and EnironmentalHealthUC Los Angeles

24


27/28

Robin Garrell, PhDProessor o ChemistrUC Los Angeles

Linda C. Giudice, MD, PhDProessor o Obstetrics, Gnecolog andReproductie SciencesUC San Francisco

Stanton A. Glant, PhDDistinguished ProessorDepartment o MedicineUC San Francisco

Hilar Godwin, PhDChair, Enironmental Health SciencesSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Ellen B. Gold, PhDProessorPublic Health SciencesUC Dais

Allen H. Goldstein, PhDProessor o BiogeochemistrEnironmental Science, Polic and ManagementUC Berele

Pamina M. Gorbach, MHS, DrPHAssociate Proessor in ResidenceDepartment o EpidemiologUC Los Angeles

kein Grumbach, MDProessor and ChairFamil and Communit MedicineUC San Francisco

Michael Grunstein, PhDDistinguished Proessor and ChairDepartment o Biological ChemistrGeen School o MedicineUC Los Angeles

Bruce D. Hammoc, PhDDistinguished Proessor and DirectorSuperund Basic Research ProgramUC Dais

S. katharine Hammond, PhDProessor o Enironmental Health SciencesSchool o Public HealthUC Berele

Olier Haninson, PhDProessor o Patholog and Laborator MedicineSchool o MedicineUC Los Angeles

Nina . Harawa, PhD, MPHAssistant Proessor o ChemistrUC Los Angeles

Philip Harber, MDProessor o Famil MedicineCenter or Occupational andEnironmental MedicineUC Los Angeles

Gail G Harrison, PhDProessor o Communit Health SciencesCenter or Health Polic ResearchUC Los Angeles

Robert J. Harrison, MD, MPHClinical Proessor o MedicineOccupational and Enironmental MedicineUC San Francisco

John Harte, PhDProessorEnerg and Resources GroupUC Berele

Barbara Herr Harthorn, PhDAssociate Proessor and DirectorCenter or Nanotechnolog in SocietUC Santa Barbara

rone B. Haes, PhDProessor o Integratie BiologUC Berele

Sean B. Hecht, JDEecutie DirectorEnironmental Law CenterUC Los Angeles

Shane que Hee, PhDProessor o Enironmental HealthSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Ira Hert-Picciotto, MPH, PhDProessorPublic Health SciencesUC Dais

William Hinds, Sc.DProessor o Enironmental HealthSchool o Public HealthUC Los Angeles

Oiesang Hong, PhD, RNAssociate Proessor o Occupational andEnironmental HealthSchool o NursingUC San Francisco

Arpad Horath, PhDAssociate Proessor and DirectorConsortium on Green Design and ManuacturingCiil and Enironmental EngineeringUC Berele

James R. Hunt, PhDProessor o Ciil and EnironmentalEngineeringCo-Director, Berele Water CenterUC Berele

Alastair Iles, SJDAssistant ProessorEnironmental Science, Polic and ManagementUC Berele

Leslie M. Israel, DO, MPHAssociate Clinical ProessorDepartment o MedicineUC Irine

Richard Joseph Jacson, MD, MPHA

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Green Chem Brief Final

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