November 20, 2006—The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell recently unveiled a new surface cleaning online database called CleanerSolutions. The free, interactive, Web-based tool helps manufacturers find safer cleaning alternatives that perform as well as hazardous chemicals—without increasing risks, says TURI.
The database contains more than 10 years of performance-testing results combined with health and environment indicators, says TURI. The system helps companies understand how to choose alternatives so that overall risks to workers and the environment are reduced.
Companies are able to choose the contaminant, solvent to replace, type of equipment, and the material being cleaned from a drop-down menu. The search results list possible replacement products, performance test results, and safety information based on five environmental and health indicators.
The TURI Laboratory conducts a preliminary screening to determine a chemical’s potential risk based on global warming potential, ozone depletion potential, volatile organic content, flammability/reactivity, and acute toxicity.
Since each manufacturer’s process and application are unique, TURI recommends pilot testing the potential replacement found in the database for both safety and performance.
