On Apr 26, 2019, at 11:25 AM, Monona Rossol <0000030664c37427-dmarc-request**At_Symbol_Here**LISTS.PRINCETON.EDU> wrote:

Ralph also asked:  "Oddly, Section 12.1 Toxicity Data says "No data available" and then lists some data."

Trust Sigma on this.  What I have found it this means there is good data out there, it just isn't in the form of one of the 10 standard toxicity tests that are reported on the SDS.

The most exciting one of these chases for me was for a "nontoxic" dye used for thousands of years called indigo."  The Sigma SDS listed indigo as STOT chronic in Category 2, but there was no support in Section 11 for that status.  A literature search turned up:

"Indirubin and Indigo Art Potent Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Ligands present in Human Urine," Jun Adachi, et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2001, 276:31475-31478; "The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor and Tumor Immunity, Ping Xue, Jinrong Fu and Yugeng Zhou, Frontiers in Immunology, Feb 13, 2018 online review article https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2018.00286 

If you check C&EN in about September or October of 2018, this article was also covered there.  It shows that DNA research showed that indigo is as strong an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand as the most toxic of the dioxins (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo dioxin or 2378 TCDD). And one of indigo's metabolites, indirubin, is 50 times stronger than 2378 TCDD.

So I now have good reason to warn my textile artists and costumers to treat this blue stuff with care.  I also suspect it will one day be listed STOT Category 1 when there are more investigations. 

The only way that Sigma SDSs could be even better is if they would reference these studies to save us chasing them.

I also use it as an example of why we can't go to computer-generated toxicity evaluations in the absence of animal tests.  We are still getting major surprises.  We just don't know enough to set up those programs.  Garbage in --> garbage out.

So my advice Ralph, is to find the studies for that any toxicity rating that is unsupported in Section 11 and do your own common sense evaluation..

Monona

-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart, Ralph <Ralph.Stuart**At_Symbol_Here**KEENE.EDU>
To: DCHAS-L <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**PRINCETON.EDU>
Sent: Fri, Apr 26, 2019 8:12 am
Subject: [DCHAS-L] MilliporeSigma Introduces New Greener Solvent, Cyrene=E2=84=A2

After reviewing the SDS for this new product, I have a philosophical question: 

Can a "Greener Chemical" have a "no data available" section on it's SDS? 

That is, shouldn't a complete hazard assessment be required before such a claim is made? It seems to me that a SDS provides the outline of the various aspects of a chemical's hazards that should be systematically investigated before such a conclusion is reached...

Oddly, Section 12.1 Toxicity Data says "No data available" and then lists some data.

- Ralph

https://www.3blmedia.com/News/MilliporeSigma-Introduces-New-Greener-Solvent-Cyrene tm

BURLINGTON, Mass., April 24, 2019 /3BL Media/- MilliporeSigma today launched Cyrene=E2=84=A2 - a sustainable dipolar aprotic solvent, produced in two steps from a renewable cellulose source. The bio-derived alternative was created in response to the need for solvents to meet stricter regulation requirements for both employee safety and environmental sustainability. The new product targets the rising demand for greener alternatives to Dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).

"With a strong focus on green chemistry, MilliporeSigma is dedicated to providing today's scientists with innovative solutions to help solve environmental challenges before us," said Klaus Bischoff, head of Research Solutions, MilliporeSigma. "As a greener alternative, Cyrene=E2=84=A2 solvent allows our customers to improve the safety of their processes and reduce the environmental impact of their research and manufacturing - without compromising performance."

MilliporeSigma uses the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry that were developed and published by thought leaders Paul T. Anastas and John C. Warner in 1991 as a framework for its Green Chemistry practice.

DMF and NMP are under increasing regulatory restrictions, with both being classified by the European Union's Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as substances of very high concern. More recently, according to the European Union, the European Commission added NMP to the restricted substances list known as REACH Annex XVII - driving the demand for alternatives. Additionally, effective May 2020, consumer products containing more than 0.3 percent NMP will be prohibited in the European Union. Initial studies and testing have found Cyrene=E2=84=A2 solvent to be a more sustainable, safer option when compared with DMF and NMP.
.....
<more information at URL above>

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

ralph.stuart**At_Symbol_Here**keene.edu

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