Studies continue to confirm no association between high molecular weight phthalates and human adverse health effects When President Biden pledged that “science” and “truth” will guide decision-making, scientists the world over breathed a collective sigh of relief. The world is in a place where science should drive decision making. Ignoring or downplaying the existence of […]
Prediction time. Based on the momentum building over the past three years, I predict that 2021 will mark a significant turning point for advanced plastics recycling. Interest in advanced plastics recycling (or chemical recycling) is soaring for many reasons, in no small part due to growing awareness of plastic waste in our environment. While many […]
Black History Month is an opportunity for people of all races to recognize and honor the incredible accomplishments of black scientists. From St. Elmo Brady, the first African American to earn a PhD in chemistry, to Mary Elliott and Carl Hill, who developed novel approaches to polymerization – key steps in the development of plastics […]
To help better equip emergency responders, ACC has donated $10,000 to the new TRANSCAER Hazmat Team Response Fund. During a time of increasingly tight budgets, the fund was created in 2020 to provide supplemental support by establishing awards for community responders; enabling recipients to buy specialized hazmat safety equipment and pay for advanced training. Instead of […]
In the time of COVID-19 and a heightened awareness of stopping the spread of germs, antimicrobial products play as critical a role in public health and safety as ever. Their ability to kill harmful germs, including the novel coronavirus, and stop their spread makes them a powerful tool against an array of illnesses, infections, and […]
When it comes to safeguarding communities and the environment, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and its member are committed to being good neighbors. This commitment is embodied in ACC’s Responsible Care® program, and it’s demonstrated through projects like the joint air monitoring initiative we just announced with officials from Harris County and the Houston Advanced […]
2020 ended on a couple high notes for plastics recycling. One at the state level and another at the federal level. In the run-up to Thanksgiving, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed into law bipartisan legislation to help jumpstart advanced plastics recycling technologies in the state. Like many other states, Pennsylvania’s former laws and regulations had […]
The COVID-19 pandemic and recent election have strained our society and economy in ways not previously seen, so it is important for us to recognize positive stories and people who are doing their part to help our country and the world become safer, cleaner and healthier. In that spirit, our industry would like to thank […]
These high phthalates are used to make products that we encounter every day, from flooring to wall coverings, to luggage and sporting equipment. Even pool liners and footwear may contain high phthalates. These chemicals provide durability across a wide range of consumer and industrial products, expanding their longevity. Our previous blogs have taken a deep […]
The Rail Customer Coalition recently sent a letter to the head of President-elect Biden’s Transportation Transition Team to share the coalition’s top policy priorities for 2021 and to urge the new administration to support STB reform. The country’s transportation network is at a tipping point due to the fact that federal policies have not been […]
Despite what has been claimed, there is no scientific consensus that exposure to certain PFAS interfere with immune response. While one research team has reported an association between levels of one PFAS (PFBA) and the severity of COVID-19 response, the results of that research have not even been peer reviewed. While the study has not […]
As we move from the first 10 risk evaluations to the next 20 high-priority risk evaluations, it is imperative that the 2016 TSCA amendments be followed for current and future risk evaluations. These amendments require the use of best available science and the weight of the scientific evidence when evaluating new and existing chemicals. They […]
As we move forward in our series on the importance of the 2016 TSCA amendments, the next chemical we are going to focus on is one that you may be somewhat familiar with, formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a critical building block chemical, but you may have heard mixed messages about this chemical compound. This blog dives […]
This year we’ve all been reminded of the importance of washing our hands often and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces in the battle against the COVID-19 virus. But we probably haven’t thought of how our nutrition intersects with our ability to fight infections, like COVID-19. Americans are generally well fed and undernourishment is not a widespread […]
Published by the Yale School of Forestry Authored by Liz Plascencia (MEM Candidate, Class of 2022) As a first-year Master of Environmental Management (MEM) candidate at the Yale School of Environment (YSE) in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – it’s safe to say that this has… Read the full article at: https://environment.yale.edu/blog/2020/11/virtual-conference-highlights/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=virtual-conference-highlights
PFAS (or Fluorotechnology) are a large and diverse universe of chemistries. Each has its own unique structure, uses and environmental and health profiles. It is very concerning that The Guardian has published a piece seemingly intended to frighten the public while taking the very unscientific and inappropriate approach of lumping all PFAS together as though […]
What do skis, refrigerators, and bedding have in common? You’re probably wondering how three completely different products can have any similarities, but all three are made possible through chemical building blocks known as diisocyanates. Diisocyanates are used in a wide range of polyurethane products that help enhance our everyday lives. They form tight seals, strong […]
Published by the Yale School of Forestry Hola! My name is Liz Plascencia (she/her/hers) and I am a first-year Master of Environmental Management (MEM) from Los Angeles, California. As a Queer, Latinx, First-Generation Mexican American – I am extremely interested in the intersectionality of environmental issues while… Read the full article at: https://environment.yale.edu/blog/2020/11/welcoming-the-newest-yse-admissions-ambassador-liz-plascencia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=welcoming-the-newest-yse-admissions-ambassador-liz-plascencia
To everyone feeling a little fatigue, a little bleary-eyed this morning, you are watching democracy in action. You may wish there had been a different or more decisive result one way or the other, but the peaceful, orderly way this is playing out shows that our system does work. Yes. It was a bitterly fought […]
In 2016, Congress passed amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), with one key piece requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to use the best available science and the weight of scientific evidence when evaluating new and existing chemicals. These amendments, called the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act, clearly established the framework for a modern […]