Scientists are reporting evidence that certain ingredients in shampoo, detergents and other household cleaning agents may be a source of precursor materials for formation of a suspected cancer-causing contaminant in water supplies that receive water from sewage treatment plants. The study sheds new light on possible environmental sources of this poorly understood water contaminant, called NDMA, which is of ongoing concern to health officials.
William Mitch and colleagues note that scientists have known that NDMA and other nitrosamines can form in small amounts during the disinfection of wastewater and water with chloramine. Although nitrosamines are found in a wide variety of sources—including processed meats and tobacco smoke—scientists know little about their precursors in water. Past studies with cosmetics have found that substances called quaternary amines, which are also ingredients in household cleaning agents, may play a role in the formation of nitrosamines.
Their laboratory research showed that when mixed with chloramine, some household cleaning products—including shampoo, dishwashing detergent, and laundry detergent—formed NDMA. The report notes that sewage treatment plants may remove some of quaternary amines that form NDMA. However, quaternary amines are used in such large quantities that some still may persist and have a potentially harmful effect in the effluents from sewage treatment plants.
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FDA Acknowledges Potential Harmful Effects of Antibacterial Chemicals
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledged on April 8 that the antibacterial chemical triclosan is no more effective than regular soap and water at preventing infections. The agency also expressed concern about the development of antibiotic resistance from using antibacterial products and triclosan’s potential long-term health effects. The announcement stems from correspondence earlier this year between the agency and Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.).
“It’s about time FDA has finally stated its concerns about antibacterial chemicals like triclosan,” said Sarah Janssen, a medical doctor and staff scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “The public deserves to know that these so-called antibacterial products are no more effective in preventing infections than regular soap and water and may, in fact, be dangerous to their health in the long run.”
According to the FDA, the majority of consumer soaps contain the chemicals triclosan or triclocarban. These chemicals are also found in some body washes, shaving creams, powders, makeup, toothpastes, and other products. Animal studies have shown that both of these chemicals can interfere with hormones critical for normal development and function of the brain and reproductive system. Such interference could result in altered behavior, learning disabilities, or infertility.
Triclocarban is particularly concerning because it has been shown to artificially amplify the effects of sex hormones such as estrogen and testosterone, which could promote the growth of breast and prostate cancers, according to health experts at NRDC.
“It took three decades to get us here, but at least the FDA has finally taken a step in the right direction,” said Mae Wu, an NRDC attorney in Washington, D.C. “Now it needs to take the next important step and remove triclosan and triclocarban from consumer products. Let’s hope it doesn’t take the agency another 30 years to do it.”
FDA first proposed a rule that would have removed these chemicals from soaps in 1978. Until this rule is finalized, these chemicals are allowed to be widely used with no regulatory oversight. The growing use of triclosan in products has led to widespread residues in the environment and in people; nearly three-quarters of the U.S. population carries residues of this hormone-disrupting chemical in their bodies.
FDA has said it will be moving forward on additional regulatory action in the future. Markey also has made a number of strong recommendations including a ban on triclosan in personal care products. NRDC supports this recommendation and also wants triclocarban to be banned from personal care products because of its similar widespread use, lack of effectiveness, and concerns for hormone disrupting effects.
New Document Addresses Shipbreaking Worker Safety
Shipbreaking workers are exposed to asbestos, falls, electric shock, and fires when removing gear and equipment from outdated ships and breaking down these vessels for recycling.
The document, available online only, includes references to OSHA standards, such as fire protection in shipyards, and explains that employers are required to have emergency response and fire prevention plans. “Shipbreaking workers’ safety and health depend on their employers following the standards meant to prevent work-related hazards,” said OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels.
The document also highlights information on shipbreaking safety and health issues through references and hyperlinks to OSHA regulations. These regulations can help employers develop safety and health programs to protect workers through all phases of the shipbreaking process.
V&S Detroit Galvanizing Fined $245,000 Following Overhead Crane Fatality
Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) Director Stanley “Skip” Pruss announced the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) has cited V&S Detroit Galvanizing LLC, of Redford, Michigan, following a fatal accident, with $245,000 in proposed penalties for allegedly failing to adequately protect employees during overhead crane operations.
On November 3, 2009, V&S Detroit Galvanizing employees were attaching parts to be galvanized onto two 1½ ton racks (steel I-beams). The racks were supported by rack stands. A crane operator moved the first rack up and over employees who were hanging parts on the second rack. The crane clipped the rack stands, causing the remaining rack to fall. A temporary employee, Darryl Johnson, was caught and crushed under the weight of the rack, resulting in his death.
“This tragic workplace fatality could have been prevented. V&S Detroit Galvanizing knew their rack system was unstable, and yet they continued to expose their employees to daily hazards during overhead crane operations, which led to the death of this worker,” said Pruss. “This failure to protect their workers will not be tolerated. We are sending a clear message to all employers that they must be proactive and consistently protect their workers.”
V&S Detroit Galvanizing LLC, of Redford, employs approximately 39 employees, with some employees represented by Teamsters Local 299. The plant is over 50,000 square feet and does hot dip galvanizing of all types of metal parts, for a wide variety of industries.
On October 21, 2008, a V&S Detroit employee received multiple fractures to his left leg in a very similar incident. A rack that was loaded with parts fell on him and crushed his leg as a crane lifted another rack off the same supporting pair of rack stands. “This accident should have been a warning to the company to alter their procedures to protect their workers,” said Pruss.
In V&S Detroit’s normal racking procedure there are two rackers, a crane operator, and a hi-lo operator. This is a permanent operation at the facility and the company had several alternatives available to protect their workers:
- They could have bolted the rack stands to the concrete floor in order to prevent them from moving when the first stand is lifted.
- They could have changed the set up so that only a single rack was supported by a rack stand.
- They could also have required employees to move to the side of the building when a crane was lifting and moving a rack.
General Industry Safety Standard, Part 18, Overhead and Gantry Cranes, is a comprehensive standard that covers the equipment, installation, maintenance, and operation of top running overhead and gantry single and multiple girder cranes in, about, and around places of employment, in order to safeguard employees. It also details the necessary employee training and certification that employers must provide.
From November 3, 2009 through February 11, 2010, MIOSHA conducted the fatality investigation, as well as a companion investigation at V&S Detroit Galvanizing LLC. As a result of these two investigations, MIOSHA is issuing citations for 10 alleged violations of MIOSHA regulations. The combined citations for both investigations include seven Serious and three Willful Serious violations. The combined penalty for both investigations is $245,000.
The responsibility to protect employees lies with the employer. It is anticipated that issuing these citations will cause the employer to strengthen their safety and health efforts by maintaining corrections.
“MIOSHA is committed to helping employers who want to do the right thing. Our Consultation Education and Training (CET) Division can help employers build an effective safety and health system,” said MIOSHA Director Doug Kalinowski. “However, MIOSHA will not tolerate employers who place their employees at risk of injury or death and will take appropriate enforcement action to protect workers.”
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