Barbara Losey (APERC) presented an update on nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) at the Chemical Producers & Distributors Association (CPDA) Adjuvants and Inerts Committee Annual Meeting in Memphis, TN on May 17, 2007. NPE were successfully reassessed by the EPA Inerts Reassessment Branch and found to be exempt from the requirement for a tolerance under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which required reassessment of inert tolerance exemptions to be completed by August 3, 2006. Successful reassessment required determination of “reasonable certainty of no harm” to human health with special emphasis on infants and children. To review EPA’s decision document on NPE and their specific clearances go to http://www.epa.gov/opprd001/inerts/nonylpheny.pdf.

Dr. Henryk Melcer (Brown and Caldwell) presented a paper entitled, "The Removal of Alkylphenol Ethoxylate Surfactants in Activated Sludge Plants" at the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC 2006) in Dallas, Texas on October 24. WEFTEC 2006 is perhaps the largest, most influential, international conference on water quality and pollution control technology and issues. The focus of the WEFTEC conference this year was on emerging issues, new regulations and developing technologies and approaches for dealing with everyday water quality challenges.

Dr. Melcer presented his findings based on a comprehensive review of the published peer-reviewed literature on the treatability of alkylphenols (APs) and their ethoxylates (APEs). In summary, these compounds are no more difficult to treat than other organic micropollutants in the waste stream. Dr. Melcer also presented a summary of the environmental pathways and levels of nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) in the aquatic environment, which indicates that the likelihood that concentrations of NP in US surface waters will exceed EPA’s chronic Water Quality Criteria (WQC) are very low.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) held its 2006 National Pretreatment and Pollution Prevention Workshop on October 4-6 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Workshop included a session called Pollution Prevention Approaches for a Safer Environment - Case Study: Nonylphenol Ethoxylates and EPA's Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative.

Dr. Henryk Melcer (Brown and Caldwell), the lead author of a state of the science review on the treatability of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in wastewater treatment plants, presented his findings, which indicate that NP/NPEs are no more difficult to treat than other organic micropollutants in the waste stream. Dr. Melcer also presented a summary of the environmental pathways and levels of NP/NPEs in the aquatic environment, which indicate that the likelihood that concentrations of NP in US surface waters will exceed EPA’s chronic Water Quality Criteria (WQC) are very low.

Mr. Robert Schaffer, Environmental Director for the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) gave a presentation about the industrial laundry industry’s concerns with the EPA Design for Environment (DfE) Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI). Speaking on behalf of TRSA and the Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA), he noted that EPA has not demonstrated any environmental problems from NPEs use by laundries in the United States. Nor has the Agency demonstrated any environmental benefit that will be derived from SDSI. He further noted that WQC exist for NP and existing regulatory mechanisms are available to control instances where problems may exist.

All of the NACWA Panelists' presentations can be downloaded from the NACWA website.

Presentation by E. Mihaich entitled, "A Scientific and Regulatory Update on NPEs" at the Chemical Producers & Distributors Association (CPDA) Meeting — May 12, 2004

Presentation by James Williams and Barbara Losey entitled, "Update on Activities of the Alkylphenols & Ethoxylates Research Council" at the USGS/USEPA/St. Cloud State University meeting on the Environmental Fate and Effects of Alkylphenols: Scientific and Potential Future Regulatory Considerations in Mounds View, Minnesota - February 25, 2004

Presentation by Charles Staples, Ellen Mihaich, John Carbone and Kent Woodburn entitled, "Use of Quantitative and Statistical Procedures to Develop No-Effect Concentrations for Nonylphenol and NPE" at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) North American meeting in Austin, Texas - November 2003

Poster by Barbara Losey, Ellen Mihaich and Charles Staples entitled, "Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates: Assessing Their Safety and Promoting Their Responsible Use" for presentation at The Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Latin America 6th Annual Meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 20 - 23, 2003

Presentation by Barbara Losey at the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) 12th Annual Aircraft and Airfield Deicing Conference and Exposition - October 6, 2003

Presentation and Paper by Barbara Losey, at the International Nonwovens Technical Conference (INTC) in Baltimore, Maryland - September 17, 2003. The INTC conference is co-sponsored by the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) and The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA).

Presentation by Charles Staples at the EPA Workshop on Emerging Pollutants: Effluent Dominated Stream Session - August 13, 2003

Environmental Safety of NP and NPE - APERC Teleconference Update Presentation – June 2003

NP and Its Derivatives – A Regulatory Update - APERC Teleconference Update Presentation – May 2003

Presentation by Ellen Mihaich at the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA) Mid-year meeting – May 8, 2003

Presentation by Ellen Mihaich to the American Oil Chemists Society (AOCS) – May 7, 2003

Poster Presentation and Abstract by Todd Wheeler entitled, "Determination of Nonylphenol and Nonylphenol Ethoxylates in Environmental Water" from PittCon 2003 — March 2003

Presentation and Paper by Cheryl Wizda and Barbara Losey, at the International Nonwovens Technical Conference (INTC) in Atlanta, Georgia - September 25, 2002. The INTC conference is co-sponsored by the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) and the The Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA).

APERC Safety, Reliability and Effectiveness: An Overview of Alkylphenols CD released – May 2002 (Order a copy)

This CD includes a narrated presentation, which provides an overview of the latest scientific and regulatory developments related to NP, NPE and TNPP. The CD also includes topic-specific presentations that provide more detail about product applications, environmental fate and effects, human safety, and the endocrine issue.

Presentation by Lorraine Francourt to the Consumer Specialty Products Association
– May 8, 2002 (.ppt)

Presentation by James B. (Jim-Bob) Williams entitled, "NPEs and the Industrial Laundry Industry" to the Uniform & Textile Service Association (UTSA) – May 2, 2002 (.ppt)

Presentation on the CEPA Process for NP/NPE - An Update for Stakeholders
– April 29, 2002 (.ppt)

TNPP Status Report Presentation, by Robert J. Fensterheim and Sheri Blystone, to the American Plastics Council - January 23, 2002 (.ppt)

TNPP Status Report Presentation by Robert J. Fensterheim, Executive Director of the APE Research Council, to the American Plastics Council, June 21, 2001 (.ppt)

Presentation by Barbara S. Losey, Deputy Director of the APE Research Council, to the Canadian Association of Textile Colourists and Chemists (CATCC) - December 6, 2001