Hands-on assistance improves already successful pollution prevention services of the toxics use reduction institute’s laboratory

In an attempt to improve the adoption rate of the work conducted at the Toxics Use Reduction Institute Lab, a more comprehensive on-site follow-up assistance program was implemented in 2006. The effort was piloted for trichloroethylene replacement in Rhode Island in conjunction with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1.Through hands-on workshops and on-site assistance efforts, the TURI Lab project was able to achieve an 82% reduction in TCE in a two year period. This new methodology for on-site assistance follow-up to the preexisting TURI Lab testing program has been incorporated into the work the Lab conducts for companies in Massachusetts. The Lab had an implementation rate of around 30% without on-site assistance. During the first year of the new process, the adoption rate has jumped to 80% of all companies working with the lab.     

Primary prevention for worker health and safety: cleaner production and toxics use reduction in Massachusetts

Worker health and safety and environmental protection are not always considered simultaneously when attempting to reduce or eliminate hazardous materials from our environment. Cleaner Production-Pollution Prevention (CPPP), as primary prevention, has the ability to shift worker health and safety strategies from control to prevention, where exposure prevention precedes exposure control. This paper evaluates the effect of Cleaner Production-Pollution Prevention in the form of toxics use reduction (TUR) on worker health and safety at three printed wire board facilities covered under the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act. In-depth case study analysis, including an assessment of each facility’s health and safety status, explores the root causes of the worker health and safety changes attributable to the TUR interventions. By exploring the relationship between worker health and safety and environmental protection within the corporate structure; we can identify the factors driving companies to reduce toxics both inside and outside of their plants, as a single concern.While traditionally there have been divergent paths of practice for worker health and safety and environmental protection, the two are closely connected. It is important, however, to consider the implications of risk transfer/shifting between the general and work environment. In order to avoid this risk shifting, worker health and safety perspectives and goals must be more clearly incorporated into the Cleaner Production-Pollution Prevention/TUR management system. This study opens a dialog around the effects of environmental intervention programs on worker health and safety. We realize now that while CPPP/TUR reduces exposure to toxic substances in the general environment, it also offers unique opportunities to reaffirm primary prevention principles in the work environment.     

At the source: the origins of the Massachusetts toxics use reduction program and an overview of this special issue

This special edition of the Journal of Cleaner Production celebrates the twentieth anniversary of a piece of legislation that has special significance to the environmental movement - the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act of 1989 (TURA). Most of the papers in this issue were presented at a symposium to commemorate the twentieth anniversary that was held on November 4, 2009.Much has been written about the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Program. It has been heralded as a major pollution prevention success story. It has been lauded as a premier American example of the precautionary principle in action. It has been condemned by the American chemical industry trade association as “bad for the chemical industry”. And it has been praised by the Ford Foundation and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government as an award-receiving example of innovation in government (Harvard Kennedy School, 2005).Looking back now to some twenty years ago—back to the early origins of the program concept—it can be seen both as a landmark breakthrough in international chemicals policy, and as a fairly conventional next step in the political evolution of Massachusetts environmental policy.Where did this idea come from? How did it develop? How were pieces put together? Why did Massachusetts adopt such an idea into law? And how did the idea change during the early years of implementation? This paper provides a brief history of the development of the concept of toxics use reduction and the process by which it was drafted into law in Massachusetts, followed by an introduction to the articles included in this special edition and their assessment of TURA - past, present, and future.     

Reducing sulfates concentration in the tannery effluent by applying pollution prevention techniques and nanofiltration

The use of large quantities of sulfuric acid and other sulfur-containing chemicals causes high sulfate concentrations in the wastewater of a tannery. The aim of this work was reducing the sulfate concentration in the final wastewater from a tannery. For that, firstly a study about the main sulfate sources in a tannery was carried out and the total sulfates load in the tannery wastewater was evaluated. Two measures for sulfates reduction were studied: the recycling of unhairing wastewater to the soaking drums and the reuse of the chromium sulfate from the tanning washing wastewater after its separation by nanofiltration (NF). The first measure proposed was studied experimentally in laboratory drums of 5 L of volume. Two series of experiments with different volumes of unhairing wastewater in the soaking bath were carried out. The quality of the final leather was evaluated by means of mechanical tests. NF experiments were carried out in a laboratory pilot plant with a spiral wounded membrane element. Concerning the results, the combination of 50% unhairing wastewater and 50% of fresh water was appropriate in order to obtain leather with an acceptable quality. Besides, it drove to a diminution of approximately 10% in the addition of sulfide in the unhairing. Related to the NF experiments, 97% of the sulfates were rejected by the membrane. The separated ions could be recycled to the tanning drums. The application of the two measures (firstly the recycling of the unhairing wastewater and secondly the NF of the tanning washing wastewater) drove to a reduction of 14.82 kg SO₄⁻² t⁻¹ of raw hide.     

A feasibility and cost comparison of perchloroethylene dry cleaning to professional wet cleaning: case study of Silver Hanger Cleaners, Bellingham, Massachusetts

The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) has been working with the dry cleaning sector for over 10 years - focusing on the ultimate goal of eliminating the use of perchloroethylene in this sector due to the availability of less toxic, feasible alternatives. Professional wet cleaning has been identified as one of these alternatives and has been a focus of the Institute in recent years. In 2008, the Institute provided a matching grant to Silver Hanger Cleaners in Bellingham, Massachusetts to convert their operations from perchloroethylene-based to water-based processes. Two years of data have been collected from the facility, reflecting one year of solvent use and one year of dedicated professional wet cleaning. The analysis of that data is presented here, including capital costs, performance data and associated costs, operational costs, and resource use and associated costs.     

Helping small businesses implement toxics use reduction techniques: dry cleaners, auto shops, and floor finishers assisted in creating safer and healthier work places

The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI), Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (Viet-AID) have worked with small business sectors to reduce their use of toxic chemicals. Three cases, described here, in dry cleaning, auto shops and floor finishing share common approaches for creating successful models of effective dissemination of toxics use reduction in small businesses. These include direct business support, peer-to-peer training and promotion of alternatives, and collaborations with stakeholders to achieve greener businesses. These results were achieved despite predictable barriers of lack of resources, suspicion of safer alternatives, and language and cultural barriers.     

The experiences of four corporate officials managing compliance with the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act

The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA), one of the original pollution prevention laws, has faced repeated repeal attempts and budget cuts. Yet the Massachusetts toxics use data and other analyses have provided firm indications that the law has actually worked. Though the program has survived it is notable that an approach that both saves money and reduces pollution has been reduced and not expanded. This paper does not attempt to answer the question of why the strategies of TURA have not seen wider application, but offers four stories to illustrate what happens when they are properly applied. The experience of corporate officials who had to comply with TURA, related at a symposium on the occasion of the law’s 20th anniversary, shed light on how a strong pollution prevention law can benefit regulated companies as well as the environment and worker and public health, and provide suggestions, in addition to data and surveys, that TURA-like sets of governance tools should receive wider consideration.     

Integrated environmental assessment and pollution prevention in Vietnam: the case of anthracite production

Using the concept of life cycle analysis, the whole life cycle of anthracite production in Vietnam was assessed and the environmental “hot-spots” were identified. These include (i) dust pollution at coal transfer points or piles in storage; (ii) noise pollution resulting from the usage of heavy equipment, and (iii) high volume of acid and turbid mine water discharged into the environment.Pollution prevention and treatment options were identified and discussed in this study which consists of wet treatment of dust, planning, collection and treatment of mine water, planting of trees for dust and noise reduction as well as minimization of erosion. Some recommendations are made for pollution abatement from coal production and improvement of anthracite production in the region.     

Utilization of publicly owned treatment works to promote pollution prevention

Industrial production processes contribute the most diverse group of emissions to air, water, and land pollution. These forms of pollution were the initial focus of environmental regulations requiring control efforts. Under optimum conditions, industrial waste streams pass through some type of treatment to minimize toxicity prior to being released into the environment. Business, government, and interest groups have previously assumed that industrial productivity and environmental quality were diametrically opposed. In other words, enhanced industrial productivity resulted in environmental damage and, conversely, environmental protection resulted in costs to business. However, companies that have implemented pollution prevention (P2) strategies to address their environmental problems have usually found that their facility's productivity can improve, while at the same time waste and pollution can be reduced. Where previous environmental strategies focused on end-of-pipe control efforts, P2 strategies are implemented at the design or process phase. While there are many examples of individual companies successfully implementing P2, consensus shows P2 adoption by the business community advancing at a rate far slower than expected. Most government agencies that currently promote P2 are not typically viewed as credible sources of innovation by industry. Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs), however, may be able to capitalize on their dual status as respected members of the local community as well as experts in waste management thus serving as credible proponents of P2. The paper discusses how POTWs are working with industrial users to promote P2, as well as their interest in doing so and their requirements for technical assistance. Survey results are provided that describe how POTW personnel in the State of Illinois believe they could best promote P2.     

西北地区水窖水质的污染原因及防治措施

文章结合我国西北地区雨水集蓄利用工程水质的基本情况,对典型地区水窖水质的检测数据、结果和污染成因作了分析,并提出了水窖防治水质污染的措施。     

靖江市大气环境颗粒物污染的预防和治理

在靖江经济高速增长的同时,工业得到了大力的发展,城市规模不断扩大。但是在经济繁荣城镇化建设取得成绩同时,由于工业和民用设施以及汽车尾气的排放却给城市大气环境带来了大量的颗粒物污染。根据相关统计数据显示,在最近五年内,我国多数大型城市的大气颗粒物的监测数值都呈现上升状态,这不但显示了大气环境颗粒物污染朝着加重的趋势发展,也显示了对大气环境颗粒物污染治理的急迫性。2012年冬季以来,北京、天津等城市相继出现了较严重的雾霾天气,其中大气环境颗粒物PM2．5的指标严重超标,使得我们不得不对大气环境颗粒物污染引起足够的重视。     

海洋污染综合防治的科学对策

环境科学的发展和人们对环境保护工作的实践证明，海洋综合防治需要建立科学对策，其中包括环境影响评价和影响预测，物理化学参数、质量平衡模式，生物学参数，监视监测，陆－海界面相关研究及其有关的研究。     

推动节能减排发展循环经济——以上海市长宁区为例

为适应经济社会全面、协调、可持续发展的要求,以上海市长宁区推动节能减排、发展循环经济的做法为例,分析其存在的具体问题,提出关于第三产业发展循环经济、建设生态型产业园区等方面的建议。     

污染减排影响经济发展的投入产出模型及实证分析

构建了环境经济投入产出模型,针对淘汰落后产能对经济发展的影响进行了实证研究,定量计算了2006～2007年问淘汰落后产能对于经济社会发展的贡献度和影响.研究表明,虽然淘汰落后产能对于传统的国民经济发展指标有一定负面影响,但对于优化经济增长方式确实起到了积极作用.一是优化了产业结构,第一、二、三产业结构由2005年的12.4%,48.6%,39.0%调整为2006年的12.5%,48.2%和39.3%,2007年调整为12.6%,47.8%和39.6%,第二产业所占比重逐步下降,第三产业所占比重逐步上升;在第二产业内部.造纸、食品、电力、炼焦、金属冶炼、非金属矿物制品业等重污染行业的增加值所占比重持续下降,产业结构逐步得到优化.二是提高了经济效率,从涉及到的造纸、食品、电力、炼焦、金属冶炼、非金属矿物制品业6个产业部门2006年和2007年的COD和SO_2的产污系数看,都比2005年有所降低.2006年和2007年,食品制造业的单位增加值COD排放量比2005年分别下降了6.6%和25.0%;金属冶炼及压延加工业的单位增加值SO_2排放量比2005年分别下降3.5%和6.9%.     

上下游水污染价值补偿量化标准设计

本文依据环境经济学物质平衡理论的概念框架,以污染者付费原则的环境经济政策为指导,研究上游河流水污染引发下游污染事件所致经济损失成本和事故技术等级关联系数,进而提出以公平和可持续的价值补偿标准为基础的上下游河流水污染经济补偿模型及其运作机制,并为环境损害财务成本的计量提供参考依据。     

企业主体责任导向下排污许可制的制度内涵、法律价值和构建路径

构建以排污许可制为核心的固定污染源监管制度体系,具有丰富的制度内涵,在当前强化排污单位污染防治主体责任的政策目标下,对有效形成企业持证排污、政府依证监管格局,提升固定污染源污染防治的法治化水平,具有重要的法律价值。当前应以《排污许可管理条例》的制定为契机,以排污许可证整合企业污染防治义务,厘清政府和企业的权力义务边界,明确排污单位污染排放控制的责任范围,具体化监管要求,增强企业污染物排放管理的预期,激励和推动企业强化对自身排放行为的管理,主动承担环境治理主体责任,提升污染源监管制度效能。