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HGC News Note 2/21/2010
Chemical Cocktails
The Environment Council of EU Environment Ministers is recommending that the European Commission consider the effect of exposure to multiple chemicals as part of chemical policy and risk management. These mixtures are also known as chemical cocktails. These recommendations underscore concerns with endocrine disruptors. The US is not far behind - a National Academy of Science report pointed out the need for examining combined exposure to phthalates. Similar concerns were reported from Danish biomonitoring research. Your business plan should include strategies for managing this risk when the New York Times splashes the latest chemical of concern and the fact that it is in your product.
RoHS Revisions
The comment period closed last week on the significant changes for the RoHS revisions. Based on the latest proposed text, the requirements will expand to all electrical and electronic products and include the following additional materials in the restrictions (at 0.1% homogeneous level)
- brominated and chlorinated flame retardants;
- PVC,
- chlorinated plasticisers,
- DEHP, BBP and DBP.
It also sets the stage for reviewing the following chemicals for future inclusion:
- arsenic compounds,
- beryllium and its compounds,
- antimony trioxide,
- dinickeltrioxide,
- bisphenol A,
- organobromines and organochlorines
Are you ready to manage these changes?
DoD and Climate Change
For the first time, the US Department of Defense will address climate change in its Quadrennial Budget. The Pentagon expects global climate change to cause political instability and conflict. |
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