| News for American Chemistry |  |
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- Consumer Reports finds BPA in canned food
 Consumer Reports says the 19 branded canned foods it tested for bisphenol A all contained the chemical. "Our studies show that the BPA is actually in the food itself," says Urvashi Rangan, director of technical policy for Consumer Reports magazine. In response, the American Chemistry Council's Steven Hentges told ABC News the level of exposure is "about a thousand times below safety standards set by government agencies around the world." A just-released study by the Environmental Protection Agency concluded low-dose maternal exposure to BPA had no significant developmental effects on laboratory rats. KTTV-TV (Los Angeles)
(11/3)
, ABC News
(11/4)
, ChemicalWatch.com (subscription required)
(11/4)
     
| Industry News | | |
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- DuPont anticipates healthy profit growth through 2012
DuPont sees an annual average growth of 20% in its earnings per share through 2012, boosted by an increased focus on environmental protection, reduced dependence on fossil fuels, emerging markets and food productivity. To combat the recession, the company slashed costs and restructured its business to become "well-positioned to outperform the rate at which markets recover and improve," said CEO Ellen Kullman. ICIS News (U.K.)
(11/3)
, Reuters
(11/3)
- VCI: German chemical producers exhibit sustained growth
Germany's chemical industry is showing signs of recovery, driven by the increasing demand for base and specialty chemicals in Asia and South America, said German chemical trade group VCI. The country's chemical manufacturers, including BASF and Lanxess, recorded a 4% rise in production for the third quarter, while sales increased by 5.5%. However, "production levels remain considerably below pre-crisis levels," said VCI Chairman Ulrich Lehner. Bloomberg
(11/3)
, Reuters
(11/3)
- Dow Chemical CFO gets new overseas assignments
Dow Chemical CFO Geoffery Merszei has been named president of Dow Europe, Middle East and Africa as well as chairman of Dow Europe and executive vice president of Dow Chemical. William Weideman, vice president and controller, will act as CFO until the company finds a replacement for Merszei. Google/The Associated Press
(11/3)
- FTC to begin implementing anti-manipulation policy for energy market
The Federal Trade Commission is set to implement a rule that would impose fines of as much as $1 million a day on energy traders and companies caught manipulating oil markets. False statements related to pricing or petroleum output, fraudulent data and so-called "wash sales" are among the possible violations. The policy may prompt businesses to reconsider disclosing their cash oil deals to price-reporting groups, an antitrust lawyer said. Reuters
(11/4)
| Public Health & Environment | | |
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- Lack of strong leadership fouls environment, advocate says
Forbes used data from the Environmental Protection Agency to list the most toxic cities in the U.S. Atlanta topped the rankings, with Detroit, Houston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Los Angeles rounding out the top spots. Environmentalists blamed weak regulations, saying, "For a lot of the chemicals people reported dumping, there are alternatives we should be helping them switch to." Forbes
(11/2)
- Manufacturers roll out green construction materials
A number of startups are producing bricks, concrete and other building materials using sustainable raw materials and environmentally friendly methods. One such company is California-based CalStar Products, which has developed a way to make bricks from fly ash, a byproduct of coal burning. The process uses 85% less energy than conventional brick manufacturing. The Wall Street Journal
(11/4)
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| | ACC Top-Selling Statistical Guides — 2009 Editions Now Available
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| Energy & Climate | | |
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- Boxer brings in EPA to address economic issues tied to climate bill
Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, began the markup of the climate bill and devoted a special session in which an Environmental Protection Agency official addressed questions on the economic details of the legislation. Only one Republican member of the panel was present when the hearing began, but none showed up for the EPA briefing. While Boxer said she has the right to advance the measure without Republican support, she remained "very hopeful" of their participation and declined to give a deadline for the committee to complete its work. The New York Times (free registration)/ClimateWire
(11/3)
, Bloomberg
(11/3)
- U.S. will ramp up climate-change efforts, Obama tells European chiefs
The U.S. will step up efforts to reach a climate-change pact during next month's international summit in Copenhagen, President Barack Obama said. His statement comes after a White House meeting with European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and other European leaders. Barroso said he believes an accord could be achieved with the "strong leadership" of the U.S. BBC
(11/4)
| Safety, Security & Transportation | | |
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| ACC News | | |
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American Chemistry Council Comments on Consumer Reports Study
The American Chemistry Council members develop, test and obtain regulatory approval for a variety of food contact products designed to keep food safe and fresh. Epoxy resins made from bisphenol A are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to line food and beverage cans -- to help prevent corrosion, contamination and food spoilage, and to provide a shelf life of two years or more. The recommendations from Consumer Reports' unnamed experts are inconsistent with the conclusions of expert regulatory bodies worldwide, all of which have confirmed that BPA exposure levels are low and well within safety standards. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, typical human exposure to BPA, including through canned products, is about 1,000 times below government safety limits. Learn more.
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Summer Industrial Internships for Undergraduates
Exceptional sophomores and juniors majoring in chemistry and chemical engineering are encouraged to apply for a 10-week internship through the SCI Scholars Program. Twenty-one scholars will be chosen for summer 2010. SCI Scholars will receive $6,000 to $9,000 for a 10-week internship, a certificate and an additional $1,000 that can be used for any purpose, such as participation at an ACS or AIChE meeting. Applications are due Jan. 15. Interested students should visit here for more information and to apply. Faculty can also download a program flyer from this site.
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Implementing Inherently Safer Technology at chemical facilities to make them less vulnerable to terrorist attacks is not as simple as some politicians want people to believe, writes Charles T. Drevna, president of the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association. These politicians are using IST as a means to advance their political agenda instead of putting the focus on security, Drevna argues. 
