P2 Best Practices that Benefit

Employee and Community Health

EPA Design for the Environment ProgramAutomotive Refinishing Partnership

Mary CushmacOffice of Pollution Prevention & Toxics

Environmental Protection AgencyWashington, DC

Environmental SummitMay 2008

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Session Goals Raise awareness of health benefits from

implementing P2 practices Identify employee health benefits as an

added incentive for implementing P2 practices

Explore ways to measure health & environmental benefits

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EPA’s Design for the Environment (DfE) Program Solves problems collaboratively Brings industry resources to the table Gives access to Agency

technical resources Factors in economics Combines multi-media and multi-disciplinary approach

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DfE Partnerships

Alternatives Assessments Flame Retardants: Furniture, Printed Circuit Boards Lead-Free Solder in Electronics Wire & Cable

Formulator Program Recognition of Safer Formulations Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative (SDSI)

Best Practices Automotive Refinishing Session focus Nail Salons

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Profile of Auto Refinish Industry

About 50,000 shops 200,000 auto refinishers 1,400 high school and community college

programs Shops/schools use & release harmful

chemicals Many shops are located in residential

areas Emissions may pose risks to those in the

shops/schools and nearby residents

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P2 Opportunity

EPA estimates that auto refinish shops emit 280,000 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and air toxics annually

DfE best practices: reduce shop emissions improve shop’s health and safety profile reduce shop costs (in many cases) assist with regulatory compliance (VOCs,

hazardous waste, air toxics, odors, worker safety and health)

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Auto Refinishing Chemicals and

Potential Health Effects Diisocyanates are the leading cause of work-

related asthma; skin & lung sensitizers; subject of two NIOSH Alerts

Organic solvents (toluene, ethyl benzene, xylenes, etc.) are VOCs and air toxics that cause systemic, central nervous system and reproductive effects – Safer substitutes are available!

Heavy metals: hexavalent chromium causes lung cancer; lead causes nerve and brain damage – Lead and chrome-free paints are available!

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Who May Be at Risk? Workers and others in the shop Students and others in the class Persons living near auto body shops Children playing in soil contaminated by

automotive paint dust and particulates Nearby schools, day care centers, and

hospitals Mobile paint sprayers & persons nearby Hobbyists and others who use automotive

paints, e.g., artists

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Other Health Issues

42% of U.S. population live in counties that have unhealthful levels of ozone and particulates (American Lung Association report, State of the Air, May 2008; www.lungusa.org)

Sensitive populations are particularly vulnerable to air pollution

20 million Americans have asthma 9 million children have asthma, the leading

serious chronic childhood disease (Am. Academy of

Allergy Asthma & Immunology; www.aaaai.org)

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DfE Auto Refinishing Partnership –

Strategy & Approach Work in partnership with businesses and build a

network of support to promote P2 Focus on spray painting and other related activities

that release toxic chemicals Identify key chemicals of concern and exposure points Identify best practices and safer alternative chemicals Identify factors that motivate change Develop implementation strategy (tools, approaches) Network, communicate, train, and encourage best

practices to reduce risk and pollution Evaluate response and measure results

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Before Best Practices

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After Best Practices

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Findings

Over 100 shop and school site visits; numerous workshops across the country

81% of shops made changes Some best practices were included in the new EPA

paint regulation (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart HHHHH) Changes benefit employees & community

Reduced emissions Better respiratory & skin protection for workers Healthier workforce and community Cleaner, more productive work area Lower costs (less paint, less waste) Improved business/community relationships

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Potential Emissions Reduction with Certain

Best Practices One small shop reduced overall VOC

emissions by 218 lbs/yr (34%) and particulate emissions by 316 lbs/yr (99%) by adopting best practices*

If 300 small shops adopted best practices, emissions could be reduced as follows: 300 x 218 lb/yr VOCs = 65,400 lbs/yr VOCs

reduced 300 x 316 lb/yr particulates = 94,800 lbs/yr

particulates reduced

*Using HVLP spray guns/training and conducting all spraying in a filtered spray booth.

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Reduction in Auto Body Shop Emissions with Best Practices

020406080

100

Conventional spraygun without booth

HVLP spray gunwithout booth

Booth +Conventional spray

gun

Booth + HVLPspray gun

Best Practice

% R

educ

tion

in E

mis

sion

s

Diisocyanates Lead, Chromium Organic Solvents

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Potential Cost Savings with P2

$6,900

$13,000

* Estimated annual savings, based on 420 gal/yr Courtesy of the STAR Program, IWRC

COST

COST

COST

SAVINGSSAVINGS SAVINGSSAVINGS

Conventional HVLP Spray Guns HVLP Spray Guns with Proper Technique

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Mapping Air Emissions near Schools

Note: Air emissions in blue; schools in red

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DfE Tools

Technical fact sheets, case studies Site visits Best practices & train-the-trainer workshops Outreach kit (binder, folder, and CD) DfE and virtual auto body shop websites Best practices self-evaluation checklist Emissions reduction calculator Collaboration and networking

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Employee Health Benefits

Better information on hazards and ways to protect oneself, fellow workers, and family

Reduced exposure to hazardous chemicals Respiratory and skin protection User-friendly control technology and more

efficient practices to reduce emissions Healthier painters, fewer lost days

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Community Health Benefits

Reduced toxic air emissions (VOCs & particulates) and hazardous waste near schools, day care centers, and residences

Reduced odors Cleaner air Healthier neighborhood – reduction in

Asthma Breathing and other respiratory problems Headaches Other adverse health effects

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Gathering and Evaluating Data

Occupational asthma data (SENSOR and SWORD programs)

Asthma and air quality data (American Lung Association)

DfE Self-Evaluation of Best Practices for Schools and Businesses

DfE Emissions Reduction Calculator OSHA Health Effects Calculator

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On-line Resources DfE Auto Refinish Project

http://www.epa.gov/dfe/projects/auto

Virtual Auto Body Shop http://www.ccar-greenlink.org/cshops

STAR® (Spray Technique & Research) http://www.iwrc.org/programs/STAR.cfm

NIOSH Health & Safety Topics: Isocyanates

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/isocyanates/

OSHA Auto Body Repair and Refinishing http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/autobody

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DfE Web Site and Contacts

Mary Cushmac202-564-8803

cushmac.mary@epa.gov

DfE Automotive Refinishing Partnershiphttp://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/auto

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Topics to Explore in this Session

How can P2 be linked to employee health? How can we better communicate P2

benefits on employee health? What data could demonstrate P2 impacts

on employee health? How can companies be motivated to

implement P2 practices for health without fear of liability for health effects?