TURI collaborated with researchers UMass and representatives from Johnson Matthey (now called Veranova) to find and evaluate safer alternatives to dichloromethane (DCM) used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals.
Various chemical substances are used in industry as product
materials and process chemicals. As issues related to the environment and human health are considered important, possible risks of
production processes need to be identified and reduced at the
process design stage (Cano-Ruiz and McRae, 1998; Chen and
Shonnard, 2004).
Acushnet Rubber Company of New Bedford, Massachusetts is the first company in Massachusetts to
obtain certification in ISO 14001, an international standard for environmental management.
Inner-Tite Corporation replaced its existing parts degreasing equipment with two entirely enclosed
Forenta® degreasing units. The new degreasing equipment has reduced air emissions of
trichloroethylene (TCE) by 97% and will save the company over $12,000 annually in avoided chemical
purchases.
There are numerous factors that drive companies in the electronics industry to switch to
less hazardous materials in their products. These factors can be categorized as regulatory
and market drivers.
Benchmark Electronics conducted a lead free (Pb-free) implementation for one of their Massachusetts customers in January
2006. This customer designs and manufactures computer systems based on open industry standards. The Pb-free conversion
was done on a limited number of an existing tin lead (SnPb) high reliability medical product.
Smith and Wesson implemented process changes to reduce the use of l,1,1-Trichloroethane (TCA) in its
cold degreasing operations. The installation of agitating parts washers and drum top washers which use
an aqueous solution has eliminated the use of TCA and saves the firm at least $6,870 annually.
SUMMARY
Case Study
at Poly-Plating Inc.
Poly-Plating designed and installed integral repurification equipment which filters,
recycles and concentrates wastes for reclamation. This equipment reduced acid purchases to
1%of 1989 levels. Reclaiming and recycling has cut disposal costs by 98%
Columbia Manufacturing Inc. in Westfield, Massachusetts eliminated the use of 150,000 gallons of
water per day in their plating operations. Columbia saved $80,000 in sewer fees, among other cost
savings, by upgrading the plating equipment and integrating a zero discharge wastewater treatment
system
SouthCoast Technical Products made changes to their operating processes which brought the
company into compliance with Massachusetts environmental regulations and led to significant
reductions in water use.
Massachusetts firms that manufacture
or process at or above 25,000 lbs. a
year, or otherwise use 10,000 lbs. per
year of a listed toxic chemical, are
required to report on use and waste
and submit reduction plans to the
state
The safety of children’s products has come under increased
scrutiny due to the prevalence of product recalls caused by products not meeting requirements for lead and other toxic material
content requirements set forth by the U.S
Like many of our environmental laws, the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) was created in the wake of a tragedy. Just outside Boston, Massachusetts, children in the community of Woburn developed leukemia and other cancers at an abnormal rate during the 1960s and 70s. Investigations later linked the cluster of childhood cancer with water contamination from the use of toxic chemicals by local businesses. The carcinogen trichlorethylene (also known as “TCE”) was among the toxics identified.
Transene Company, a manufacturer of advanced materials for the electronics
industry, wanted to find viable alternatives to perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
use in semiconductor manufacturing in response to customer demands for
PFAS-free products.
We are grateful to Dr. Steffen Hansen and Dr. Jennifer Sass for
reviewing this report, and to Dr. Dhimiter Bello, Dr. Tim Malloy and
Ms. Lynn Bergeson for sharing with us their technical and administrative law expertise on nanotechnology.
The project saved the company $5,000 annually while protecting workers from potential exposure to hazardous acid and reducing the generation of hazardous waste.
A manufacturer of wire mesh, developed a dual brush roll system that significantly reduced the use of toxics, improved the work environment, and increased cost savings.
A manufacturer of biomedical devices eliminated the use of a harmful hormone disrupter and found a safer alternative that met international restrictions.
Raytheon Technologies, manufacturer in the aerospace and defense sector, eliminated its use of lead, cadmium and hexavalent chromium to protect the environment and human health.
Transene, a manufacturer of advanced materials for the electronics industry, eliminated PFAS from a production process to provide customers with new, safer etching products.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture hosted TURI’s community grantees for an online legislative briefing and recognition event. Massachusetts communities are working to reduce the use of toxic chemicals in firefighting gear, personal care products, cleaning and more.
TURI worked with a Massachusetts gymnastics training facility to eliminate toxic flame retardants in their foam pit cubes while maintaining fire safety.
