U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Characterizing Chemicals in Commerce
December 13, 2006
Austin, Texas
Michael P. Wilson, Ph.D, MPH
Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
University of California, Berkeley
mpwilson@berkeley.edu
The University of California, Berkeley
UC Center for Occupational and Environmental Health
Est. 1978 (AB 3414)
Berkeley, Davis, San Francisco (northern California).
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Toxicology
Epidemiology
Industrial hygiene
Environmental health policy
Occupational and environmental medicine
Occupational health nursing
Ergonomics
Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP)
Continuing professional education
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The University of California, Berkeley
UC Report: Green Chemistry in California: A Framework for
Leadership in Chemical Policy and Innovation.
•Assesses problems and opportunities in chemicals policy
• Proposes broad policy goals
Commissioned January 2004 by:
• Byron Sher
(Chair, SEQC)
• John Laird
(Chair, ACESTM)
Released to Legislature March 14, 2006 to:
• Joseph Simitian (Chair, SEQC)
• Ira Ruskin
(Chair, ACESTM)
Download:
http://coeh.berkeley.edu/news/06_wilson_policy.htm
The University of California, Berkeley
John R. Balmes, MD
School of Medicine, UC San Francisco
Report Advisory Committee
Carl F. Cranor, PhD
Department of Philosophy, UC Riverside
Timothy Malloy, JD
School of Law, UC Los Angeles
S. Katharine Hammond, PhD
School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
Thomas E. McKone, PhD
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Bill E. Kastenberg, PhD
College of Engineering, UC Berkeley
Dara O’Rourke, PhD
College of Natural Resources, UC Berkeley
Ann Keller, PhD
School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
Julia Quint, PhD
Department of Health Services
Amy D. Kyle, PhD, MPH
School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
Christine Rosen, PhD
Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
Geoff Lomax, DrPH
Department of Health Services
David J. Vogel, PhD
Haas School of Business, UC Berkeley
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Report’s findings similar to those of:
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National Academy of Sciences
U.S. General Accounting Office
Congressional Office of Technology Assessment
Environmental Defense
U.S. EPA
former EPA officials
RAND Science and Technology Institute
U.S. Government Accountability Office
National Academy of Sciences
1984
1994
1995
1997
1998
2002
2003
2005
2005
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The University of California, Berkeley
California’s expected population growth, 1990-2050
60
55
50
Millions
45
40
35
30
2006 = 36 million
25
20
1990
2000
2010
2020
2030
2040
2050
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The University of California, Berkeley
Source: California Dept of Finance, CA pop. trends, 1990 – 2050
Global chemical production is doubling every 25-years.
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Production index = 231 in 2022,
where 1997 = 100
300
Production index = 131 today,
where 1997 = 100
200
100
2030
2028
2026
2024
2022
2020
2018
2016
2014
2012
2010
2008
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
0
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The University of California, Berkeley
Key finding: TSCA goals:
(1) Assess risks of 62,000 existing chemicals
(2) Control those of greatest concern.
Procedural & legal burdens,
data gaps (GAO, 2005)
Voluntary approaches
HPV chems
1.
Provide REACH data to EPA
2.
Formalize consent agreements
3.
Address CBI issue (GAO, 2005)
Meeting TSCA goals?
No
1.
EPA needs more than HPV data to meet burdens
2.
Is post-market, not preventive = commercial value
3.
Ongoing barriers to test rules & to controlling hazards
The University of California, Berkeley
Non-HPV chems
No action
Yes
1. Beginning to
fill data gaps for
high volume
substances.
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UC report: A systems approach is needed to produce enduring
changes in the chemical sector. Example: per capita electricity use.
Annual electricity use per capita, kWh, 1960 - 2002
14,000
12,000
U.S.
10,000
California
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
1988
1986
1984
1982
1980
1978
1976
1974
1972
1970
1968
1966
1964
1962
1960
0
Courtesy John Wilson, CA Energy Commission
The University of California, Berkeley
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The design of chemical products and processes to
reduce and/or eliminate substances hazardous to human
health and the environment.
12 principles proposed by Anastas &Warner.
Anastas, P.T. and J. Warner. 1999. Green Chemistry Theory and Practice
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The University of California, Berkeley
Thank you!
The University of California, Berkeley
UC chemicals policy report
Barriers to green chemistry
TSCA, other statutes
Data Gap
Safety Gap
Markets
Buyers: weak haz data
Sellers: weak case for GC
Tech. Gap
Government
Barriers to assess haz
Barriers to control haz
- “Hazard” undervalued against price, function
- Hazardous chemicals competitive in market
- Green chemistry innovation impeded
Drivers of green chemistry
E.U. policy
initiatives
Downstream
users
Industry
leaders
NGO
activity
Green chem.
entrepreneurs
Public
opinion
California
Legislature
Government
procurement
Climate
change
National
Academy
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