OK, look at their own statement of purpose:

The Green Chemical Alternatives Purchasing Wizard is intended as a tool to reduce the hazardous waste profile in research labs, an effort that ultimately saves MIT, and its researchers, money while reducing hazard potentials and the burden to our environment. 

First, the premise is wrong.  "reducing the hazardous waste profile" does not ultimately "reduce hazard potentials."  The two objectives are unrelated.  Please look HARD at the chemicals these sites recommend.  I think you will find they are indeed often not the safer chemicals for the user.

What something breaks down into in the environment long after it has been discarded is unrelated to the toxicity of the chemical BEFORE it breaks down in the environment.

Evaluate the toxicity of the chemical to the user.  Evaluate the chemical's effect on the environment.  But do these two things independent of each other.

Monona Rossol, M.S., M.F.A., Industrial Hygienist

President:  Arts, Crafts & Theater Safety, Inc.

Safety Officer: Local USA829, IATSE

181 Thompson St., #23

New York, NY 10012     212-777-0062

actsnyc**At_Symbol_Here**cs.com   www.artscraftstheatersafety.org

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Samuella Beth Sigmann <sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**APPSTATE.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Sent: Tue, Dec 12, 2017 2:13 pm
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Greener Trade Chemical Screening Tools?

MIT has a Green Chemistry Purchasing Wizard.  No specific course, but I have used it for teaching. 
S-

https://ehs.mit.edu/site/environmental-stewardship/green-chemistry

On 12/12/2017 12:43 PM, Stuart, Ralph wrote:

I had an interesting conversation this morning with the chair of our product design department about assessing greener alternatives to the trade chemicals (paints, glues, etc.) they use in their metal and woods shops. She is interesting in identifying sources of information that she can use with students and staff to identify greener alternatives (safer and less toxic) to the chemicals they traditionally use in those areas. Based on a short course she recently attended on the topic, she also feels that there is the potential for developing a course for design students on this topic.

I wonder if anyone on the list has identified a specific information source that supports this opportunity or has developed a course on this topic for either undergrad or graduate level non-chemistry students?

Thanks for any information on this.

- Ralph


Ralph Stuart, CIH, CCHO
Environmental Safety Manager
Keene State College
603 358-2859

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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We, the willing, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do everything with nothing. Teresa Arnold paraphrased from Konstantin Josef Jire=C4=8Dek (1854 - 1918)

 

Samuella B. Sigmann, MS, NRCC-CHO

Senior Lecturer/Safety Committee Chair/Director of Stockroom

A. R. Smith Department of Chemistry

Appalachian State University

525 Rivers Street

Boone, NC 28608

Phone: 828 262 2755

Fax: 828 262 6558

Email: sigmannsb**At_Symbol_Here**appstate.edu

 

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas

--- For more information about the DCHAS-L e-mail list, contact the Divisional secretary at secretary**At_Symbol_Here**dchas.org Follow us on Twitter **At_Symbol_Here**acsdchas