Clean Break

The lab's database is referenced in The Mom’s Guide to Growing Your Family Green: Saving the Earth Begins at Home (St. Martin’s Press), by author Terra Wellington. The first how-to book for everyday parents on saving the environment and improving the health and safety of their families hit bookshelves March 17, 2009.

The mention in the manuscript is a recommendation to use the CleanerSolutions Database to determine the greenness and safety of cleaning products in the cleaning chapter of the book.

Recently articles on the DIY cleaning recipe work conducted at the TURI Lab:

The UMass Lowell Toxics Use Reduction Institute recently demonstrated for The Sun how it tests various solutions for safety and cleaning effectiveness.


Brazilian Women's Group work

Alternative Cleaning Testing
Testing has finally slowed down. No new companies worked with the lab this past month. We did run some testing for companies already working with the lab.

We are working on case studies documenting the work we have accomplished with several of the companies. The reports are currently being reviewed internally by the TURI staff.

Product Certification Testing
Several companies have been working with the lab to have products evaluated for performance so that the products can be certified by various environmental standards. Testing has been conducted for Green Seal certification for GS 8, 34 and 37. Additional work has been done for product certification for EPA's DfE Formulators project.

Database
Work is continuing on the Search Wizard. Preliminary links to TURI's P2OASys data links for cleaning products have been added. This will give the end users more access to health and safety information for alternative cleaning products.

Outreach
Presented at KSU workshop in Wichita – 3/10/09 on database and lab services. Nearly 80 people were in attendance. A couple of the vendors contacted the lab about getting their products listed on the site.

The lab has been asked to write a chapter in the Handbook for Critical Cleaning, edited by Barbara and Ed Kanegsberg from CRC Press. The chapter will document the lab's success in assisting companies in the search for a safer and effective cleaning product.

Strategic Planning for Next Fiscal Year
Work has begun for next year's plans for the lab. In the works: a hands on workshop held at the the TURI Lab; an on-line P2OASys interface; and a possible disinfection assessment partnership established on the UML campus within the School of Health and Environment.

Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute Seminar

On Tuesday, March 10, a presentation will be given on the lab's process of assisting companies looking to find safer cleaning chemicals. An overview of the CleanerSolutions database will be given.

To find out more about this presentation check here.

Alternative Cleaning Testing

We have been busy this year having run 91 trials for 23 companies. Last year at this time we had run 44 trials for 15 companies. We are working on follow up projects for two wire and cable companies and have started working with a light bulb manufacturer.

The six case studies are still being worked on. One of these, looking at how the database can help companies find safer alternatives is nearing completion. Three others are ready to begin the internal review process.

Product Certification Testing
Several companies have been working with the lab to have products evaluated for performance so that the products can be certified by various environmental standards. Testing has been conducted for Green Seal certification for GS 8, 34 and 37. Additional work has been done for product certification for EPA's DfE Formulators project.

DIY Household cleaners
We are working on a “What Does This Mean” section to help people understand the health and safety information on the various ingredients of these recipes and how recipes compare to traditional cleaners. We have conducted lab testing on more recipes for performance. These recipes are used by the Brazilian Women's Group Co-op to support Brazilian house cleaners in their professions while creating community and promoting healthy and environmentally-friendly methods.

Database
Plans are in the works to start adding new features to the CleanerSolutions site. We are working on Search Wizard that will help guide users on how to select a cleaning process that will be best suited to their needs. In addition, we are adding more information on the health and safety of cleaning products beyond our five point screening process.

Outreach
The lab may be presenting on the database and other lab services at an upcoming event during March for Kansas State University Pollution Prevention Institute located in Wichita. The event is targeted at aerospace, auto body,printers, and misc solvent cleaners. The goal will be teaching participants how they can reduce solvent emission by changing the process, technology, and/or material.

Alternative Cleaning Testing
We have run 67 trials for 18 companies. These include a machine construction company, a machining company; a tool manufacturer; numerous chemical companies, mostly vendors of products looking for Green Seal certification; a nano-chemical manufacturing company (boron) who has decided upon an aqueous cleaning product; and an electronics manufacturer.

Six case studies are in the works. Many of the companies have provided additional on-site testing results which we are currently working on to included in the papers.

One case study is for a company that is switching to using green seal floor stripper on their parts. This will replace their current mechanical process. Based on the success of the project, the company is currently working on a new cleaning project with lab.

A second case study was focused on replacing IPA for specialty glass cleaning. The lab had identified a potential cleaner that was being piloted by the company. The company got feedback from their customers that there was now issues with the a haze forming on the surface. The lab and the company are continuing to look for pH neutral alternative glass cleaner.

Product Certification Testing
Several companies have been working with the lab to have products evaluated for performance so that the products can be certified by various environmental standards. Testing has been conducted for Green Seal certification for GS 8, 34 and 37. Additional work has been done for product certification for EPA's DfE Formulators project.

CleanerSolutions Database
The CleanerSolutions database was recently updated with the latest batch of testing results for end users and vendor projects. In addition, minor changes to the layout of the home page have been completed. In the works will be the addition of a guided search that will help users in a stepwise manner determine what type of cleaning equipment and chemistry would best suit their needs.

Outreach
The participated in the recent TURI Continuing Education Conference held November 20 in Framingham. The session the lab ran included information on the lab's services and the CleanerSolutions database.

TCE Substitutions
The TURI Laboratory will discuss options for those companies using TCE (now a higher hazard chemical) for cleaning applications. The results of projects attempting to replace TCE in cleaning applications will be discussed and case studies presented on how the lab provides technical assistance in the lab and on site.

For more on the conference