applications. During 2013, ACIintends to add publicly availablehazard data as part of its CleaningProduct Ingredient Safety Initiative. Theinventory is available online athttp://ACIscience.org. According to theACI, the inventory will be most useful toregulators, researchers, cleaningproduct industry formulators andsuppliers looking for a comprehensivelist of the ingredients used in consumercleaning products. Ingredient safetyinformation is also available on morethan 2000 household cleaners in adatabase recently released by theEnvironmental Working Group (EWG).Each cleaning products has beenassigned an A-F grade by EWG toreflect both ingredient safety andcontent disclosure.

Original Source: Chemical and Engineering News, 17Sep 2012, 90 (38), 22 (Website: http://www.cen-online.org) © American Chemical Society 2012

Health

BASF dedicates global dermatologylab in Tarrytown

BASF has announced the opening ofa new global dermatology laboratoryin Tarrytown, NY, USA. The lab willfocus on topical formulations for thepharmaceutical market. Work willinclude basic research on skinirritation and allergy reactions to fullformulations using BASF solubilizersand its broadened excipient portfolio.The laboratory will also supportcustomers in developing newmarketing concepts and solvingformulation challenges. BASF will tapinto its core expertise in liquid andsemi-solid formulations for skinapplications. With the integration ofthe Cognis pharmaceutical-gradeexcipients in 2010, BASF hasincreased its range of lipid-basedemollients, surfactants, emulsifiers,gelling agents, waxes andsolubilizers. The new pharmaceuticalexcipient portfolio now allows BASFto become a partner in human andanimal dermatology, and topical,transdermal and liquid medicines.The lab will employ a newly formeddermatology team comprising R&Dscientists, technical sales, marketingand product management.

Original Source: BASF SE, D-67056 Ludwigshafen,Germany, tel: +49 621 600, website:http://www.basf.com (25 Sep 2012) © BASF 2012

Discovery Labs initiates four researchprojects to assess KL4 utility in acutelung injury

Discovery Laboratories Inc hasannounced the initiation of fourresearch projects designed to explorethe use of its proprietary KL4surfactant technology for theprevention and treatment of acutelung injury (ALI). Discovery Labsbelieves that KL4 surfactant may bean effective intervention for people atrisk for, or with, ALI. The company iscollaborating with leading researchinstitutions and US Governmentagencies in a series of pre-clinicalstudies funded through various USGovernment-sponsored, biodefence-related initiatives.

PR Newswire, 27 Sep 2012, (Website:http://www.prnewswire.com)

Other

Ecolab expands Latin American foodand beverage business

Ecolab Inc announced it has agreedto purchase Quimiproductos SA deCV, a wholly-owned subsidiary ofMexico-based multinational FomentoEconomico Mexicano, SAB de CV.With 2011 revenue of $35 M,Quimiproductos is a leadingmanufacturer and provider of cleaningand sanitizing and water treatmentproducts and services to beverageand brewery customers in Mexico; italso operates in several Central andSouth American countries.Completion of the transaction issubject to customary regulatoryclearance and other standard closingconditions.

Original Source: Ecolab, website:http://www.ecolab.com/ (27 Sep 2012) © Ecolab2012

LEGISLATIONAlkyl amines polyalkoxylates;exemption from the requirement of atolerance

This regulation, issued by the USEnvironmental Protection Agency(EPA), amends the exemption fromthe requirement of a tolerance forresidues of alkyl aminespolyalkoxylates under 40 CFR

180.920 and 40 CFR 180.930 toinclude the additional ChemicalAbstract Service Registry Number(CAS Reg No) 1266162-49-5. BASFCorp submitted a petition to the EPAunder the Federal Food, Drug, andCosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting anamendment to an existingrequirement of a tolerance. Thisregulation is effective 10 Oct 2012.Objections and requests for hearingsmust be received on or before 10 Dec2012.

Original Source: Federal Register, 10 Oct 2012, 77(196), 61515-61518 (Website:http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys)

ENVIRONMENTPerfluorinated chemical controls

Government authorities, together withindustry and environmental andhealth advocates, are taking steps tocurb emissions of long-chainperfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) inlight of ecological and healthconcerns. PFCs are widely used inmodern society; they provide grease,stain or water resistance to paper,carpets and clothing and serve assurfactants to help inks, paints andcleaning products flow smoothly.Long-chain PFCs have beendiscovered to be toxic to animals,including bobwhite quail and leopardfrogs, in laboratory tests, says theEnvironmental Protection Agency(EPA). The chemicals have harmfulreproductive, developmental andsystemic effects in lab animals.However, PFCs have yet to showsignificant adverse effects in thegeneral human population [but seeFocus on Surfactants, Jul 2012 onthis topic]. In 2006, the US EPAadopted a non-regulatory approachby asking chemical producers tovoluntarily reduce their releases oflong-chain PFCs. In early 2012, EPAannounced that Daikin America,DuPont, Solvay Solexis and3M/Dyneon were able to achieve by2012 a 95% reduction in plantemissions and the amount of long-chain PFCs in products. The fourfirms, together with Arkema, AsahiGlass, BASF and Clariant, haveinformed the EPA that they are onschedule to phase out long-chainPFCs by end-2015. In Canada, a

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