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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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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
chemicals and products.
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
chemicals and products.
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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