Toxics Use Reduction Institute

TURI recently had the pleasure of visiting Entegris in Bedford for their “Safety Day” cookout!

It was a great opportunity for our staff to connect with workers from across the company, discussing practical ways to reduce the use of toxic chemicals at home, in the community, and in the workplace. We also loved sharing more about TURI’s ongoing initiatives and our commitment to safer alternatives.

At TURI, we are always looking to engage with industry leaders and teams who are passionate about health and safety. We’d love to bring our expertise to your organization!

If you are interested in having TURI visit your business to discuss how we can help drive sustainability and workplace safety, please reach out to us at [email protected].

📰TURI in the News

We’re proud to see our colleagues, Alicia McCarthy, Senior Safer Chemistry Scientist and Heather Tenney, Science and Policy Director featured in a recent CNN article discussing the important distinction between cleaning and disinfecting and how to properly do both.

“Disinfecting before cleaning is like mopping a floor covered in crumbs without first sweeping. The mop cannot properly reach the floor to do its job until the crumbs and dirt are removed,” McCarthy said. Even if you did clean first, spraying and quickly wiping away the disinfectant is useless, said TURI’s science and policy director, Heather Tenney.

Read the full story here: https://us.headtopics.com/news/misusing-disinfectants-as-cleaners-may-increase-toxic-86505749

UMass Lowell Rist Institute for Sustainability & Energy at UMass Lowell Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, UMass Lowell

Misusing disinfectants as cleaners may increase toxic exposures If you use a disinfectant wipe or cleaner to tackle everyday spills, experts say you may be cleaning the wrong way — and exposing yourself to unnecessary chemicals.

Empowering the Next Generation of Scientists: TURI's Summer Workshop

Each summer, TURI partners with the Tsongas Industrial History Center Camp to lead an interactive science and sustainability workshop for approximately 18 to 20 elementary and middle school aged campers. The workshop takes place in TURI's laboratory, where staff design and or modify hands on lab activities that complement the camp's overall experience and lessons around textile history, sustainability, everyday chemical use, and water pollution. Students are encouraged to think upstream about how the choices we make during manufacturing can reduce environmental impacts downstream.

This year, TURI adapted the Beyond Benign—Green Chemistry for a Sustainable Future Fabulous Fabrics curriculum by incorporating natural dyes and additional chemistry concepts. Campers experimented with turmeric and beet juice on cotton, wool, faux suede, and another polyester fabric while exploring how pH influences color and dye performance. Using Velcro as an analogy, we introduced the idea that some dyes and fabrics are more attracted to one another than others, helping explain why certain dye and fabric combinations work better than others.

The campers also investigated how variables such as fabric type (cotton, polyester, faux suede, and wool), dye type (synthetic - kool aid vs natural - beet juice or turmeric), dye concentration, immersion time, temperature, and how evenly a fabric is submerged can affect dye uptake and the final appearance of the fabric. These observations were connected to the campers' tie dye activity later that week, encouraging them to think about why uneven coloring or white spots can occur if fabric is not fully saturated or if sections are intentionally bound with rubber bands. While the campers were too young to explore the chemistry in depth, the activities laid the foundation for future discussions about intermolecular interactions, pH, and why different fibers respond differently to dyes.

By combining hands on experimentation with real world examples, the workshop helped students connect chemistry, sustainability, and textile manufacturing while reinforcing the importance of making safer chemical choices that can protect people and the environment.

Parts Cleaning Conference 2026

Alicia McCarthy, our Senior Safer Chemistry Scientist represented TURI at the 2026 Parts Cleaning Conference in Columbus, Ohio, which brought together more than 100 attendees from across industry, government, and technical organizations. She presented on the transition away from hazardous solvents such as trichloroethylene and other halogenated chemicals used in industrial parts cleaning. Her presentation highlighted TURI’s Hub Grant, which will research vacuum v***r degreasing applications and safer chemistries as well as a case study showing how a MA company, New Method Plating, adopted a safer cleaning process while maintaining performance, reducing risk, and supporting long-term business competitiveness. Participating in the conference helped strengthen industry relationships, increase awareness of TURI’s technical resources, and connect with chemical and instrument vendors that may be interested in collaborating and supplying chemistries as part of the Hub Grant to work towards implementing safer cleaning alternatives.

For more information email: [email protected]

TURI’s Green Chemist, Gabriel Salierno, recently presented at the 30th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference. Gabriel discussed the success of the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA). He also talked about the benefits and cost savings of toxics use reduction.

TURI staff all smiles with Rowdy! (Upper left photo)

TURI is hiring a new director! Make an impact and make a difference by leading a passionate team that's helping companies and communities reduce toxic chemical use. Please share this career opportunity with your colleagues, or apply.

https://careers.pageuppeople.com/822/lowell/en-us/job/529952/director-toxics-use-reduction-institute-turi

Exciting summer ahead for our students!

Meet Ashar Khan, a Business Analytics major with a minor in PHIT, and Evan Herbert, studying Public Health - Health Sciences with a minor in PHIT. Both are rising juniors and are thrilled to be part of the PHIT Summer Internship Program funded by UML's Public Health Department. Welcome to the TURI team! 🎉

State Senator Vanna Howard recently toured the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) with her staff. She demonstrated her knowledge of TURI's initiatives and received updates on programs focused on public health and environmental protection.

The discussions emphasized TURI's dedication to sustainability and business competitiveness by promoting safer alternatives to toxics, innovative solutions, and economic growth in the region.

Thank you again Senator Howard for taking time out of your busy schedule to learn about all the new projects underway at TURI!

TURI’s report Enhancing Competitiveness through Toxics Use Reduction shows how toxics use reduction can deliver a range of competitive advantages to businesses while protecting worker and public health. Drawing on the success of Massachusetts companies participating in the Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) program, the report demonstrates that preventing pollution at the source leads to improved productivity, strengthened market position, and greater resource efficiency. Throughout the report, case studies across sectors highlight Massachusetts companies that used TURA’s financial and technical support to save on operating costs and gain a competitive advantage.

Read the report ⬇️

www.turi.org