California launches nation’s first green chemistry program
DUNCAN MCINTOSH, OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
state to move away from a chemipanies to provide data proving With Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegcal-by-chemical approach and that their products are safe for ger’s (R-CA) signature on Septoward a more comprehensive particular uses. tember 29, California became policy. No program similar to REACH the first U.S. state to approve “We found that chemical marexists in the U.S.; the law detwo laws that will move its regukets have great information about signed to regulate chemicals, the latory scheme toward a comprefunction, price, and performance, Toxic Substances Control Act hensive chemicals policy. The but the hazard piece is undervalhas numerous shortcomings. legislation is intended to imued,” says Michael Wilson, prove public and envia public-health researcher ronmental health at the University of Caliprotection and fornia Berkeley and a coencourage green author of the 2006 report. chemistry-the design of “These bills do not conchemical products and tain new data requireprocesses that reduce or ments, but they are a very eliminate the use or gensolid start that we expect eration of hazardous will continue to evolve.” substances. John Ulrich, executive A broad coalition of director of CICC, says that business and environhe likes both bills. “The mental groups, including concepts of green chemisthe Chemical Industry try are not at all inconsisCouncil of California Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the state’s two new green tent with what the (CICC) and the Environ- chemistry laws at Nelson Nameplate Co. Above, he walks past the company’s aqueous sheet cleaning system, which chemistry industry pracmental Defense Fund tices.” (EDF), praised both laws was designed with green chemistry principles. Perhaps the biggest conand the process. But cern is that the new laws other experts say that do not require companies to prothese first steps fall short of esThe new laws (AB 1879 and SB vide chemical data, says Daryl tablishing a green chemistry 509) give the California DepartDitz with the Center for Internaprogram. ment of Toxic Substances Contional Environmental Law, a nonPaul Anastas, director of the trol (DTSC) 2 years to identify profit legal and policy group. This Center for Green Chemistry and and prioritize “chemicals of conplaces a very heavy burden on Green Engineering at Yale Univercern,” a term that is currently DTSC, which must conduct lifesity and former member of Caliundefined in the laws but is cycle assessments on existing fornia’s Green Chemistry Initiative likely to include substances that chemicals and their alternatives. Science Advisory Panel, criticizes are considered to be toxic, per“This is 180 degrees different the new laws. “The panel emphasistent, and bioaccumulative. from REACH, which puts the bursized the need to support reThe laws mandate a Green Ribden on industry,” Ditz notes. search and development of safe bon Science Panel to advise “This whole elaborate process chemical products and processes, California officials on implemencould result in paralysis by analyto support green chemistry edutation efforts, and they will exsis.” cation, and to provide incentives pand the role of the EnvironLife-cycle analysis provides a for industries to rework existing mental Policy Council, which way to evaluate alternatives and processes,” he says. “These reccomprises leaders of all of the avoid unintended consequences. ommendations are not included state environmental departFor example, in 1979 the U.S. EPA in the new laws.” ments. The legislative package approved the use of methyl-tertThe laws do not incorporate includes a new online Toxics Inbutyl ether as a gasoline additive, the comprehensive approach formation Clearinghouse for but researchers later determined businesses and consumers. adopted last year by the EU. The that it can contaminate A 2006 University of California sweeping Registration, Evaluagroundwater. report commissioned by the legistion, Authorisation, and Restric—REBECCA RENNER lature established the framework tion of Chemicals (REACH) for the bills and called on the program puts the onus on com-
10.1021/es802974r
2009 American Chemical Society
Published on Web 11/19/2008
January 1, 2009 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 9 5
