UC TSR&TP Public Advisory Committee
Spring 2001 Meeting
MEE Room, Memorial Union, UC Davis
Thursday, April
12, 2001
MINUTES
Present: Jim Stratton, Chair, Office of Environmental
Health Hazard Assessment
Syed Ali, State Water Resources Control Board
Steve Book, Dept. of Health Services
Richard Clark, TOSCO
Curtis Eckhert, Dept. of Environmental Health Sciences,
UCLA
Arthur Fong, IBM Environmental Programs
Robert Gundel, Chiron Corporation
Jim Hunt, Associate Director, TSR&TP
Bruce LaBelle, Dept. of Toxic Substances Control
Jerry Last, Director, TSR&TP
Scott MacDonald, UCOP
Andrew Standeven, Amgen Inc.
Lisa Stevenson, Program Manager, TSR&TP
Leslie Stewart, League of Women Voters
Mika Pringle Tolson, Public Relations & Grants
Coordinator, TSR&TP
Winona Victery, US Environmental Protection Agency
Mandisa
Zeigler-Frye, Program Coordinator, TSR&TP
Not Present: Marc Aarens, UCOP
Mark DeSaulnier, Supervisor, Contra Costa County
Kean Goh, Dept. of Pesticide Regulation
Bruce Jennings, CA Assembly Env. Safety & Toxic
Materials Committee
Charles Lapin, Lapin & Associates
Jody Sparks, Toxics Assessment Group
Bob Spies, Applied Marine Services
Jeffery Theiss, Pfizer Global Research & Development
William Vance, CA Environmental Protection Agency
Kip Wiley, CA Senate Office of Research
Arthur
Winer, Associate Director, TSR&TP
Jim Stratton brought the meeting to order at 10:10am. Minutes from the fall meeting were reviewed for final approval. Stratton suggested minor changes then moved to approve the minutes, Richard Clark seconded. All were in favor, none opposed.
Anticipatory research was the next topic discussed. Jerry Last spoke briefly on the importance of anticipatory research to the university as well as the role of the Advisory Committee to bring forth emerging issues. Stratton asked the committee to review the current list of research needs and provide any comments or suggestions. Leslie Stewart spoke on the rising concern over mold toxicity and asked if any UC programs are currently working on this issue. Last agreed but did not personally know of any UC research on molds. He explained the allergies associated with molds would not fall under the program, however the toxic chemicals produced by the molds would. Winona Victery stated Barbara Spark was the US EPA, Region 9 mold expert and Harret Ammon has also done work in this area. Steve Book said he would check his sources on mold research and let Last know. Victery addressed the issue of ethanol and other oxygenates for fuel, stating that with the ongoing energy crisis in California, this would definitely be an important research area. Last cited the extensive research already done on ethanol and suggested this topic was more of a public policy issue.
The next topic discussed was how UC can better assist with state, public interest, and private industry needs. Scott MacDonald spoke on the request from Cal EPA for UC to form a Toxicity Committee on chromium that will be chaired by Last to review all existing research on Chromium 6 and report back their findings by August 31, 2001. These results will be used to help create the public health goal for Chromium 6 in California. Last welcomed any suggestions for this review process. Victery suggested Herman Gibb as an expert epidemiologist. The committee briefly discussed the issue of Chromium 6 in California. Andrew Standeven suggested that UC investigate the mechanism of forestomach tumors in the 1968 mouse drinking water study that forms the basis of the public health goal for chromium. Clark mentioned animal rights organizations increasing protest activities and questioned what type of interaction does the UC system have with such organizations. Stratton stressed genetic variability and acceptability to be a future issue with profound implications for public policy in genomics. He mentioned the Genetic and Environmental Toxicology Association (GETA) is having their spring symposium on June 5th in Oakland and will forward more information to the committee once he receives it. Stratton also noted urban sprawl will continue to be a serious issue as California’s population is expected to increase by up to 50% in the next several decades which will lead to greater consumption of fuel and other resources that will increases smog and other negative effects. Jim Hunt agreed and included the ecological effects and reuse of recycled water as another emerging issue. Stewart mentioned multiple chemical sensitivity as a growing concern for a small segment of the population.
Last gave the report from the Director’s Office. He stated the Executive Committee adopted the Strategic Plan during the last meeting. He also discussed the submission of research initiatives to UCOP for funding two new Lead Campus components on Nanotoxicology and Microbial Diversity. Last briefly detailed the research areas and the collaboration with California Policy Research Center in the public policy area. Next he welcomed everyone to participate in the hosted discussion on Friday night for the 14th Annual Symposium in Lake Tahoe April 20-21, 2001.
MacDonald spoke next on any UCOP Updates. He reported no changes to the budget and briefly discussed factors affecting this year’s budget. Next he gave an update on the new UC Merced campus, noting the progress of the location negotiations. Lisa Stevenson re-visited the hosted discussion for the symposium. The committee broke for lunch at 12:04 p.m.
The committee reconvened at 12:35 p.m. Last introduced Curtis Eckhert from the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at UC Los Angeles to give a presentation on the development, potential uses, and impact of nanotechnology. Stratton solicited the committee’s comments on the presentation and the committee briefly discussed the potential effects and/or consequences of this new technology.
The committee chose Sacramento for the next meeting. Stratton commented that attendance at meetings held in Sacramento tends to be higher than other locations.
Future presentation topics suggested include microbial diversity, the mold issue, and a presentation by Rich Ambrose on site remediation. Last said he would search for speakers for the next meting.
Stratton motioned to adjourn, Victery seconded. None were opposed. The meeting adjourned at 1:40 pm.