TURA in Massachusetts: Leading the Chemical Industry Towards a Greener Future

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TURA, NPB replacementTURA stands for the Toxics Use Reduction Act, which was passed into law by Massachusetts State Legislature in 1989. Negotiated by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), the law was enacted to promote the reduction of both the amount of toxics used and the toxic byproducts generated by businesses. We will outline the goals and consequences of this act for businesses while upcoming articles will address replacement options for the hazardous substances being affected.

Goals of the Toxics Use Reduction Act’s Program

The TUR Act was established with the objective of promoting safer and cleaner production while also enhancing the economic viability of Massachusetts businesses. Toxics use reduction focuses on the use of toxic chemicals and the generation of wastes in the manufacturing process, but not on the management or treatment of wastes after production.

TURA is intended to be an efficient process that would produce less waste. Massachusetts companies are required to form a plan to reduce, avoid, or eliminate the use of toxic chemicals. Each yearly cycle this plan must be recertified and noted with new efforts to improve toxics use reduction. Additionally, businesses must limit the generation of hazardous waste, emissions, and by-products to the land or air per unit of product manufactured.
Want to know more? Click here for a complete list of TURA chemicals or visit the MassDEP website.

Upcoming TURA Deadlines

The MassDEP is exercising an amnesty period for late applications and will accept overdue TURA annual chemical use reports until July 1, 2016. Those companies utilizing this amnesty program will receive a warning letter and will be required to pay one year of past due chemical use and the $1,000 administrative late fee. Businesses are required to submit Form S’s for as many years as they owe a report on the chemical, up to a maximum of three.

Each Massachusetts facility subject to TURA will need to update their TUR Plans for the 2016 calendar year and submit them by July 1st. Below are updates to the list of high hazard substances (HHS) to be reported on TURA Form S in 2017.

Added the following HHS with a reporting threshold of 1,000 pounds:

  • 1-bromopropane (n-propyl bromide, nPB)
  • Hydrogen fluoride
  • Cyanide compounds
  • Dimethylformamide (DMF)

Lowered the reporting threshold of these HHS to 1,000 pounds:

  • Trichloroethylene (TCE)
  • Cadmium and cadmium compounds
  • Perchloroethylene (PCE)
  • Hexavalent chromium compounds
  • Formaldehyde
  • Methylene chloride

Need Help Cutting Back on Toxic Output? Contact Our Knowledgeable Team for Advice

Ecolink offers many innovative products that comply with TURA standards by containing fewer harmful substances. We strive to provide clean chemical solutions for a greener future, which is why we offer chemical management services to our clients to help them comply with ever-changing environmental health and safety standards. If you would like to know more about chemical management, click here. You can visit our Product List to see what we offer or contact us at (800) 563-1305 and Tura@ecolink.com to speak with our trusted advisors.

N Propyl Bromide Vapor Degreaser: Strategies for Reducing Health Risks

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N propyl bromide vapor degreaser is used in the vapor degreasing systems of thousands of companies and organizations. However, large-scale users of the solvent are gradually replacing it with safer solutions that offer just as much efficacy, if for no other reason than that the solvent appears to be well on its way to being added to the EPA’s list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), which means that its use would be heavily regulated to prevent health risks.

But what about companies and organizations that use an n propyl bromide vapor degreaser in small quantities that may be unaffected by upcoming regulations? Switching solutions would still be a good idea, as even minimal n propyl bromide exposure can produce an acute, negative impact on workers’ health. However, for entities that opt to keep using the solvent in low amounts, it’s essential to implement the following four strategies for reducing health risks.

  1. Special Air Filtration System

Using a special air filtration system that’s designed to remove, chemical-based, airborne contaminants can help reduce n propyl bromide exposure. The lower the level of n propyl bromide emissions that workers inhale, the less likely they are to experience acute and chronic health problems that lead to lags in productivity and, potentially, chemical injury lawsuits.

  1. Personal Protective Equipment

N propyl bromide doesn’t enter the body through inhalation alone. It can also be absorbed through mucosal membranes and skin on practically any part of the body. Consequently, it’s ideal to supply workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) that covers them from head to toe while they apply the solvent. High-level PPE can be costly, but the lack of productivity and legal recourse that stem from n propyl bromide injuries can be costlier still.

  1. Sealed Vapor Degreasing System

The type of vapor degreasing system you use can also affect n propyl bromide exposure. While all vapor degreasing systems are “sealed” during operation to maintain vapor pressure, the system for moving non-recycled solvent into the waste trap should also be sealed. Ideally, workers should have no contact with n propyl bromide vapor degreaser after it enters the degreasing system. Waste disposal specialists should remove the solvent from the trap.

  1. Setting Exposure Limits

While any level of exposure to n propyl bromide could cause negative health conditions, the chance of experiencing them naturally increases as exposure to the solvent increases. Consequently, even if you use a low volume of n propyl bromide compared to other entities, you should ideally set exposure limits based on the lowest threshold (e.g., 0.1 ppm), as established by your municipality or a federal workplace regulatory agency such as OSHA.

Find an npb Replacement at Ecolink

Implementing the strategies above for reducing health risks caused by n propyl bromide can be expensive and time consuming. Regardless of how much n propyl bromide vapor degreaser they use, many outfits find it more cost effective to switch to a safer solvent instead of trying to mitigate the health risks of n propyl bromide exposure with in-house safety strategies. If you’re company in this situation, Ecolink can provide the degreaser replacement you need.

We specialize in supplying stock solutions and custom solutions that are environmentally preferred or environmentally safe, and pose a significantly lower risk to workers’ health than n propyl bromide formulations. To get started on receiving your replacement, call us today at (800) 563-1305, or use the contact form on our website, to schedule a free consultation.

1 Bromopropane Substitution: Frequently Asked Questions

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1 bromopropane (a.k.a. n-propyl bromide and nPB) is a chemical compound that is used as a solvent for broad array of applications, including: asphalt production, dry cleaning, aviation equipment maintenance, synthetic fiber manufacturing, manufacturing products that have foam cushions, electronic circuit board soldering, and degreasing plastics, optics, and certain types of metal.

1 bromopropane is highly effective for these endeavors, but studies of its chemical profile and documented reports of injuries it causes to animals and humans have moved state and federal regulatory agencies to consider it a hazardous solvent. Consequently, many companies and organizations are in the process of 1 bromopropane substitution, replacing the solvent with one that delivers the same efficacy but without the toxic effects.

Questions About 1 Bromopropane Substitution
If your company or organization is considering 1 bromopropane substitution, you may have some questions about why and how to replace the solvent. If so, take time to read through the questions below. If you have additional questions, please contact Ecolink at (800) 563-1305.

If nPB is safer than solvents it replaced, why shouldn’t it be used?
Although nPB is widely considered safer than chlorinated solvents it replaced, well-documented scientific studies and reports have shown that nPB has a dubious safety profile, too. Many highly effective solvents that are the “lesser of two evils” have been gradually phased out under the same circumstances; nPB is simply one of the most recent ones.

What health conditions could result from chronic exposure to nPB?
In its latest Report on Carcinogens (RoC), the National Toxicology Program (NTP) classifies nPB as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.” In addition to potentially causing cancer, chronic nPB exposure is known to cause neurological conditions and damage to the central nervous system (CNS) that remain after exposure ends.

If nPB is so dangerous, why isn’t it severely regulated or banned?
Chemicals often undergo a three-part process before they are phased out in industrial settings. First, they are “listed” as “reportable” because they are dangerous. Second, they are “regulated”. Third, they are “banned”. nPB may be severely regulated or banned in the future. Right now, it is listed as a reportable chemical by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which means that its use must be reported if it rises above a predetermined threshold.

What are my options for acquiring a drop-in replacement for nPB?
Because nPB has a wide range of use, the best way to acquire a drop-in replacement is to consult with a provider of eco friendly, industrial grade cleaning solvents, such as Ecolink. Once we understand how you use nPB and how much you use, we can suggest a replacement option that is perfect for your needs: a stock product or a custom product that can be “dropped in” to replace nPB without disrupting your cleaning operations and causing halts in productivity.

To get started on selecting a safe, effective nPB replacement for your solvent operations, give us a call today at (800) 563-1305, or fill out the contact form on our website. We look forward to assisting you with the process of 1 bromopropane substitution.

 

Safe Bromopropane Alternatives: Why Implement Them Now?

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The chemical cleaning solvent bromopropane has enjoyed a long run as a go-to solvent for companies in various industries. For the past 20 years, bromopropane has been used for everything from degreasing industrial motors to removing light accumulations of dirt on diverse surfaces. But, as has happened with so many other industrial solvents that have a dubious safety profile, bromopropane is slowly being phased out by companies that understand the dangers it poses.

Dangers of Bromopropane for Humans
OSHA provides a succinct report on the dangers of bromopropane for humans, summarizing research from Majersik et al. 2007 and Ichihara et al. 2012 that found: “[Bromopropane] exposure can cause irritation (for example, of the eyes, mucous membranes, upper airways and skin) and can damage the nervous system. Neurologic effects can appear as headaches, dizziness, loss of consciousness, slurred speech, confusion, difficulty walking, muscle twitching, and/or loss of feeling in arms and legs. These effects may continue among affected persons even after exposure to 1-BP has ended.”

The adverse health effects have the highest incidence in workers who perform bromopropane operations for companies that use a high volume of the solvent, particularly: dry cleaners, asphalt production companies, companies that perform aircraft maintenance, synthetic fiber manufacturers, companies that use adhesive spray products, and outfits that perform vapor and immersion degreasing to clean metal, plastic and electrical and optical components. However, any work environment where bromopropane is use in large quantities poses health risks.

What Are Safe Bromopropane Alternatives?
Safe bromopropane alternatives are solutions that have the same efficacy as bromopropane but are formulated to have a better safety profile for humans and the environment. At Ecolink, we help companies and organizations choose safe bromopropane alternatives by providing a comprehensive product guide and product list of our cleaning solutions. We recommend that you use these resources to identify safe bromopropane alternatives for you work processes.

Why Get Bromopropane Alternatives Now?
Bromopropane hasn’t been added to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) List of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). However, as information continues to emerge about the solvent’s dangers, the eventual inclusion of the solvent on the list seems inevitable. By implementing safe bromopropane alternatives now, you can do more than better protect the health of your workers. You can also avoid being forced to replace bromopropane on short notice, if indeed the solvent makes its way onto the EPA’s HAP list.

Contact Ecolink for Bromopropane Alternatives
Bromopropane is a highly effective solution for a variety of solvent-based work processes. Unfortunately, though, the effectiveness of the solvent comes at a high price for companies and organizations that use it in large volumes: profound, negative health effects on workers, which can lead to other negative situations, such as workers compensation claims, chemical injury lawsuits, and an increase in sick days taken.

For assistance choosing safe bromopropane alternatives, please call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to our contact page. We look forward to helping you protect the health of your workers and perform business-critical, solvent-based work processes with an eco friendly solution.

Industrial Degreasing: Simple Solutions for Your nPB Replacement Needs

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For the past 20 years, n-propyl bromide (nPB) has been a highly popular, industrial solvent that is used for degreasing plastics, optics, and metal surfaces. In addition to providing excellent degreasing power, the solution is prized for its eminent affordability. However, considering that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appears poised to add NPB to the List of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) that was created in 1990 as an extension of the Clean Air Act, these benefits are currently of nominal value.

According to the EPA, “Based on the chemical and physical properties of nPB, petitioners [in the scientific community] claim that nPB is carcinogenic, has toxic reproductive effects and is a neurotoxin.” Consequently, the EPA “will launch a comprehensive review on the impact of the chemical n-Propyl Bromide, setting the stage on whether it should be added to a List of Hazardous Air Pollutants in the Clean Air Act” (Law360.com).

A Few Options for nPB Replacement From Ecolink

If your company or organization uses nPB in large quantities for industrial degreasing operations, now is the time to switch to a different degreaser that delivers the same efficacy as nPB but is formulated to be safer for humans and the environment. At Ecolink, we provide several degreasing solutions that meet this description. Depending on what you need to degrease and how you plan to degrease it, below are six nPB replacement options that could meet your requirements.

  1. BULLDOG – Concentrated and aggressive; ideal for any surface not harmed by water
  2. ECOLINK 1171 – No-residue, fast evaporating, low VOC; ideal for wiping
  3. Eco-Spray ZV-2 – No-residue, fast evaporating, no VOC; ideal for spraying
  4. ECOLINK 1171HF – No-residue, fast evaporating, low VOC; ideal for wiping and spraying
  5. PINNACLE– No-residue, neutral pH, low VOC; ideal for immersion and parts washers
  6. ECOLINK 250-SS – No-residue, fast evaporating, low VOC; ideal for wiping, spraying, and parts washers

The products above are just a few of the industrial degreasing solutions that we offer for nPB replacement. In many cases, these and other Ecolink degreasing solvents can be used as drop-in replacements for cleaners that contain nPB, meaning that your degreasing processes can remain in full swing while your nPB degreasers are replaced with safer cleaning solutions.

Looking for an Effective nPB Replacement?
nPB has yet to be added to the EPA’s List of Hazardous Air Pollutants, but considering nPB’s negative association with the development of cancer and other chronic health problems, it appears that it’s only a matter of time before the EPA adds the hazardous, organobromine compound to the list. That’s why now is a great time to contact us about replacing nPB degreasers with ones that have a better safety profile but deliver the same cleaning power.

If you need assistance with assessing which of our nPB replacement cleaners are a good fit for what you plan to degrease and the method(s) of degreasing you plan to use, please call us today at (800) 563-1305, or refer to the contact page on our website. We look forward to presenting you with eco friendly, highly efficacious degreasing options for nPB replacement.