News
(Portland, Ore.) July 6, 2011 – Oregon is positioned to lead the development of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals, according to a paper published today by researchers at Portland State University (PSU).
Link to the full paper (pdf): http://bit.ly/rsJBlz
"The paper examines significant gaps in management of toxic chemicals at the state and federal level and makes specific recommendations where Oregon can have an edge in the growing market for alternatives, given the state's talent and reputation in sustainable industries, research and technology," said Jennifer Allen, co-author of the paper and Fellow of the Institute for Sustainablef Solutions at PSU.
According to the authors, more than 80,000 chemicals have been introduced in the U.S., but only several hundred of these have been studied. Federal policy lacks regulatory teeth, leaving states to fill in the gaps. However, in Oregon, regulation of toxic chemicals is divided among seven agencies, with little coordination.
"We need agreement on what our priorities are, and alignment around our capacity for technical assistance. Without this, we’ll simply continue down a path of fragmented efforts," Allen said.
To further its competitive advantage, Oregon must connect industries to "green" chemists around the state, as well as ramp up investment in research, development and workforce training.
Roger McFadden is a senior scientist at Staples in Wilsonville who helped design a line of cleaning products for Coastwide Laboratories, now a division of Staples.
"We need a revolution in product design with an environmental conscience and commitment to green chemistry," McFadden said. "The future belongs to companies that eliminate hazard and waste at all stages of product life cycle."
Two university-based research centers — the Oregon Nanotechnology and Microproducts Institute and the Oregon Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Research Center – are working on green nanotechnology, clean energy and green building technologies. However, Oregon lacks a system to prioritize where alternative products or approaches are most needed. As a result, these research initiatives are not being fully leveraged, the authors conclude.
"For Oregon, the simple act of defining those chemicals which are of the greatest concern would be a powerful signal, catalyzing industry transformation and leadership," said Johanna Brickman, Manager of the Sustainable Build Environmental Program for BEST.
The next steps are to prioritize and integrate existing toxic reduction strategies among state government, agencies and organizations, according to the paper.
The Institute for Sustainable Solutions at Portland State University facilitates integrated research, learning and service to lead PSU to become a globally recognized model of sustainability. Fellows of the Institute for Sustainable Solutions are scholars representing various aspects of sustainability scholarship at PSU. www.pdx.edu/sustainability
Funding for this research was provided by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division, Office of Environmental Public Health, Oregon Department of Human Services and Metro Regional Government and the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association (NAHMMA).
