EHP research finding pervasive leaching of chemicals with EA from plastic products

(PlastiPure) -- Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), a peer-reviewed journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, published a major scientific article from researchers at PlastiPure, CertiChem, and Georgetown University, focused on quantifying and addressing the potential health issue of estrogenic activity (EA) in plastic products. The results of this study indicate that the large majority of commercially available BPA-free plastic materials and products readily leach chemicals having EA. Leaching increases when products are subjected to common-use stresses such as dishwashing, microwaving and sunlight.

There is currently great scientific concern about the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Chemicals with EA are believed to constitute the largest group of EDCs and have been linked to adverse health effects such as birth defects, reproductive cancers, and behavioral and learning disorders. While the estrogenic chemical BPA is widely known by the public, it is less well known that thousands of other chemicals are suspected to have EA. The EHP paper is groundbreaking in its quantification of levels of EA across multiple BPA-free materials and consumer plastic products, which until PlastiPure's research have been suspected, but largely unmeasured.

In this study, all types of plastic materials often tested positive for leaching of chemicals having EA, including those manufactured from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Bio-resins, such as several polylactic acid (PLA) resins and products, also showed easily detectable EA. In addition, materials specifically targeted and used as replacements for BPA-containing polycarbonate (PC), such as polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) and polyethersulfone (PES), often leached chemicals having EA levels equivalent to or above those found leaching from BPA-containing PC.

MRC

(Solutia) -- Solutia Inc., a globally leading producer of performance materials and specialty chemicals and the world's leading producer of professional window films for automotive, residential and commercial markets, presented national and regional dealer awards at its annual elite Vista window films dealer conference, held at the Hilton Bayfront in San Diego, California, February 11-13.

This year's well-attended dealer conference, themed "Energize Your Business," included sessions focused on unleashing the power of EnerLogic(TM) window film , launching a fresh decorative film product offering and unveiling new dealer communication tools.

Advanced Window Solutions of Cortlandt Manor, NY was named National Dealer of the Year. Marc Vitaliani accepted the award on behalf of the window film company. Advanced Window Solutions was chosen from more than 350 dealers in Solutia's elite Vista dealer program. The award was based on several criteria, including dealer loyalty, growth and the use of Solutia's exclusive Vista sales and marketing programs.

MRC

(BASF) -- The comprehensive product portfolio of BASF provides customers with a complete toolbox of solutions to their needs. At the European Coatings Show (March 29 - 31) in Nuremberg, Germany, BASF will feature a range of established products and new solutions to formulate coatings for furniture and flooring applications.

The market of coatings for furniture and flooring is extremely diverse and ranges from kitchen and bathroom furniture to luxury parquet floors. With its products BASF delivers environmentally friendly solutions and innovative technologies that meet the high performance requirements of this diverse market.

BASF offers the most complete range of high-performance pigments for deco laminates and PVC floors, fulfilling highest quality requirements such as resistance to light and chemicals. Being available in many colors and shades, it is possible to create endless color options. At the ECS, BASF will present the high-performance brands Cromophtal, Cinquasia, Irgazin and Heliogen for the formulation of laminate and PVC inks.

At the ECS, BASF will also present its range of the high-end metallic pigment Metasheen and the complete portfolio of pearlescent pigments including Glacier Frost White, the whitest pearlescent pigment. Further, BASF will feature the effect pigment Lumina which enables sparkling effects in different colors with high chromaticity and transparency.

MRC

(ICIS) -- Rising ethylene spot prices and feedstock costs drove US February ethylene contracts up 3.75 cents/lb to 49.00 cents/lb ($1,080/tonne, ┬778/tonne), market sources said on Friday. The 8.3% increase for the February contract was largely in line with market expectations and erased a 3.25 cent/lb drop in January.

Spot ethylene was heard traded at 53.00-53.25 cents/lb on the Williams system and at 53.50-53.75 cents/lb on the Equistar system this week.

For the month of February, the average of the weekly spot ranges as assessed by ICIS was 48.9 cents/lb, compared with 42.8 cents/lb in January.

The continued increase in ethylene spot prices is likely to provide support for another contract hike in March, sources said.

MRC

(ICIS) -- A combination of high crude oil prices driven up by ongoing violence in Libya and a firmer crack spread supported by tight supplies pushed European naphtha prices to $1,006-1,014/tonne on Friday, ICIS data showed. The rise took the average weekly price to $989.50/tonne CIF (cost, insurance and freight) NWE (northwest Europe), the highest level since August 2008.

A crack spread that firmed throughout the week, in addition to rises in the price of crude oil, sent the cargo range upwards.

At 16:30GMT on 28 February, the crack spread was at minus $5.25/bbl while April Brent crude oil reached $112.88/bbl. This resulted in a naphtha cargo range of $951-959/tonne.

By Friday morning, the crack spread had firmed to minus $2.65/bbl, while April Brent had climbed to $115.50/bbl, resulting in the aforementioned range of $1,006-1,014/tonne.

This was in contrast to the trend of the previous two weeks, when the crack spread had weakened in response to crude oil price hikes. The softening of the spread helped curb what would have been higher naphtha price rises, with the aim of lessening damage to demand.

However, this week a tightening of the market had negated the need for this, resulting in a stronger crack spread.

MRC