The latest news about safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products

Flame Retardants Are Not All Created Equal

Here we discuss what exactly flame retardant chemicals are, why they are used in some classes of consumer products, and why blanket bans on such a diverse group of chemicals, such as the recent ban passed in Maine, is a bad idea when trying to protect consumers.

Environment, Policy, RegulationJames EdeSeptember 28, 2017Vireo Advisors, James Ede, Flame Retardants Ban, Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Maine, fire protection, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), organohalogens, human health effects, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), potential neurotoxic effects in humansComment

EPA Begins CDX Electronic Communication

The EPA announced on Monday that they will begin sending electronic letters acknowledging receipt of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) notices of substantial risk that were submitted electronically via the Central Data Exchange (CDX).

Policy, RegulationJames EdeSeptember 28, 2017CDX, EPA, electronic communication, TSCA, TSCA notices, Toxic Substances Control Act, Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(e) notices of substantial riskComment

Maine Bans All Flame Retardants in Upholstered Furniture; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Calls for Removal of Organohalogenated Flame Retardants in Consumer Products

Maine has banned all flame retardant chemicals in upholstered furniture despite Governor Paul LePage’s veto.

Regulation, PolicyJames EdeSeptember 19, 2017Maine, Flame-retardant chemical, flame-retardant chemical ban, upholstered furniture, Vireo Advisors, Govenor LePage, exposure to carcinogens, firefighter groupsComment

How will you celebrate National Nanotechnology Day?

People around the world will be celebrating nanotechnology on this day, as well as raising awareness by demonstrating how it is used in products, and examining the challenges and opportunities of the future of nanotechnology.

Events, NanotechnologyJames EdeSeptember 13, 2017National Nanotechnology Day, Vireo Advisors, Nanocellulose, Nanotechnology, 10^9, biobased technologies, national nanotechnology coordination officeComment

Stanford study shows that 99% of microbes inside of our bodies are still unknown

The conclusion of a survey of DNA fragments in blood circulating in humans conducted by Stanford researchers has found that 99% of the microbes in our bodies have never been seen, classified, or named.

InnovationJames EdeSeptember 11, 2017DNA fragments, Vireo Advisors, Stanford University, Stephen Quake, microbesComment

TSCA Inventory Notification (Active-Inactive) Rule

Under The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) required the reporting of all chemicals manufactured or imported in the U.S. over the last 10 years (which ended on June 21, 2016).

Policy, Regulation, Risk AnalysisJames EdeSeptember 7, 2017Vireo Advisors, EPA, TSCA, Toxic Substances Control Act, Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety, active or inactive rule, risk evaluationComment

Vireo Advisor's Kimberly Ong to Present Work of NanoAOP Project at Nano Canada 2017

Dr. Kimberly Ong of Vireo Advisors will present Vireo’s ongoing collaborative work* entitled, "Advancing Adverse Outcome Pathways as a Tool for the Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials – the NanoAOP Project", during NanoCanada's first national conference: Converging on Nanomanufacturing from September 25-26, 2017 in Montréal, Canada.

EPA Released Updated Guidance for the TSCA Nano Rule

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) Information Gathering Rule on Nanomaterials in Commerce (EPA Nano Rule) took effect on August 14th (see our updates on this rule here).

Policy, Regulation, Nanomaterials, GuidanceJames EdeAugust 23, 2017EPA, Guidance for the TSCA NanoRule, working guidance, Section 8(a) Information Gathering Rule on Nanomaterials in Commerce, nanomaterial, nanoscale substances, Vireo AdvisorsComment

Open Access through 2017 of Special Edition of NanoImpact features work of Vireo Advisors and American Process Inc.

The special edition of the journal NanoImpact, A decade of Nanotoxicology Research: Impact on Human Health and the Environment 8th International Congress of Nanotoxicology is available with open access through 2017.

Commercialization, NanoEHS News, Nanomaterials, Risk Analysis, EnvironmentJames EdeAugust 17, 2017special edition of the journal NanoImpact, NanoImpact, Open Access, James Ede, Jo Anne Shatkin, Kimberly Ong, Kim Nelson, Theodora Retsina, American Process Inc, Vireo Advisors, Commercialization, data gapsComment

EPA Nanotechnology Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Rule Becomes Active

The TSCA section 8(a) Nanotechnology Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Rule came into effect on August 14, 2017, and also released final guidance toward compliance with the rule.

Nanomaterials, Policy, GuidanceJames EdeAugust 15, 2017TSCA section 8(a) Nanotechnology Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Rule, August 14, nanoscale substances, final guidance, one-time reporting and recordkeeping, nanomaterialsComment