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Public nuisance cases against lead pigment manufacturers dismissed
FOCUS with Graphic-Tech (Flint’s longstanding distributor, based in Hong Kong). Flint is also a player in the organic pigments field: its subsidiary, CDR Pigments & Dispersions manufactures colorants and varnishes for ink, plastics, paint and other enduse sectors. Ink Maker, Oct 2003, 81 (8), 9-22
Slovenia’s paintmakers gear up for EU membership next year The country’s four leading paint producers are looking forward to Slovenia becoming a full member of the European Union. Paint is the fifth largest industrial manufacturing sector in Slovenia, in terms of sales revenue. The industry’s revenue has increased by 30% over the past six years, reaching €194 M in 2002. Of this total, 60% is derived from exports and Slovenian paintmakers are eager to increase their export marketing activities within the EU. The four major producers are: Color, Jub, Helios and Belinka. They account for more than half of Slovenia’s total paint output of 120,000 tonnes. Helios reported total sales at €120 M for 2002 and the company is aiming to become one of the world’s top 50 paint companies. It produces decorative paints, automotive finishes, industrial coatings, wood finishes and roadmarking paints, as well as synthetic resins. Jub confines its activities to interior and exterior building paints. Belinka specialises in timber protecting paints and lacquers. Color reported a turnover of €45 M last year. It produces building paints and aims to be one of the most flexible powder coatings producers in Europe. European Chemical News, 21 Jul 2003, 79 (2062 (Slovenia report)), viii
LITIGATION Public nuisance cases against lead pigment manufacturers dismissed Since 1989, over a hundred cases have been filed in the United States, seeking to blame paint and pigment manufacturers for public health problems. So far, the industry has a
NOVEMBER 2003
ON
PIGMENTS
track-record of 100% in defending itself against lawsuits of this nature. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2001, 1-4). One of the most recent cases involved the City of Chicago as plaintiff. On 7 October 2003, the Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois dismissed this plaintiff’s case against the former manufacturers of lead pigment and rejected its claim that the defendants had created a “public nuisance.” Commenting on this verdict, the campaign group stated: “In dismissing the City’s public nuisance lawsuit, the Court rejected the City’s attempt to shift responsibility for lead paint removal from the owners of the affected properties to a selected group of companies. The City’s lawsuit has been a misguided attempt to reverse the policies established by the State legislature and by the Illinois Department of Health, which have concluded that intact lead paint is not a hazard. Enforcement efforts should focus on landlords and property owners who allow lead paint to deteriorate. Similar public nuisance suits also have been dismissed by the Courts in Milwaukee, Santa Clara (California) and New Jersey. Press release from: Companies Involved in Lead Pigment Litigation, USA. Tel: +1 866 202 2476. Website: http://www.leadlawsuits.com (7 Oct 2003)
HEALTH & SAFETY Lycopene red as a food colorant & antioxidant Several companies have recently been granted approvals for food additive products with lycopene as the key active ingredient. The lycopene is essentially a red colorant and acts in synergy with tocopherols and carotenoids to produce strong antioxidant properties when added to foods and beverages. Three products from BASF have received GRAS (generally recognized as safe) certification by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). LycoRed Natural Products Industries Ltd (of Israel) has received GRAS certification for its Lyc-O-Mato
product, which is described as a “tomato lycopene.” Chemical Market Reporter, 8 Sep 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & NutraCos, 13 Aug 2003, 2 (3), 59-60
Prussian blue for treating radiation patients Prussian blue has been approved by the FDA as a treatment suitable for people exposed to radiation contamination, notably from caesium137 or thallium. More specifically, Heyl Chemisch-pharmazeutische Fabrik GmbH & Co KG (of Berlin) has received FDA certification for its product Radiogardase capsules, which contain ferric (III) hexacyanoferrate(II) as the key active ingredient. Radiogardase works by increasing the rate of elimination of radioactive caesium and thallium from the body. The FDA states that its approval is part of an ongoing effort to provide the American public with medical countermeasures in the event of a terrorist attack. The FDA has also published guidance notes entitled: “Prussian Blue – submitting a new drug application” to assist and encourage other manufacturers to put forward applications for Prussian blue products. Press release from: The Food &Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, USA. Website: http://www.fda.gov (2 Oct 2003)
TECHNOLOGY Clariant’s new red & green-shade yellow pigments Hostaperm Yellow H5G is a new, green-shade yellow pigment from Clariant. It offers good covering power and excellent weather-resistance. It is recommended in particular for aqueous- and solvent-based automotive coatings. Resistance to temperatures above 200°C means that it is also suitable for powder coatings and coil coatings. Novoperm THI Red 4G 70 from Clariant is a brilliant red colour with a yellow cast, which has very high covering power and good rheology. It is recommended for industrial coating applications. Farbe und Lack, 6 Aug 2003, 109 (8), 52 (in German)
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Slovenia’s paintmakers gear up for EU membership next year The country’s four leading paint producers are looking forward to Slovenia becoming a full member of the European Union. Paint is the fifth largest industrial manufacturing sector in Slovenia, in terms of sales revenue. The industry’s revenue has increased by 30% over the past six years, reaching €194 M in 2002. Of this total, 60% is derived from exports and Slovenian paintmakers are eager to increase their export marketing activities within the EU. The four major producers are: Color, Jub, Helios and Belinka. They account for more than half of Slovenia’s total paint output of 120,000 tonnes. Helios reported total sales at €120 M for 2002 and the company is aiming to become one of the world’s top 50 paint companies. It produces decorative paints, automotive finishes, industrial coatings, wood finishes and roadmarking paints, as well as synthetic resins. Jub confines its activities to interior and exterior building paints. Belinka specialises in timber protecting paints and lacquers. Color reported a turnover of €45 M last year. It produces building paints and aims to be one of the most flexible powder coatings producers in Europe. European Chemical News, 21 Jul 2003, 79 (2062 (Slovenia report)), viii
LITIGATION Public nuisance cases against lead pigment manufacturers dismissed Since 1989, over a hundred cases have been filed in the United States, seeking to blame paint and pigment manufacturers for public health problems. So far, the industry has a
NOVEMBER 2003
ON
PIGMENTS
track-record of 100% in defending itself against lawsuits of this nature. (See also ‘Focus on Pigments’, Oct 2001, 1-4). One of the most recent cases involved the City of Chicago as plaintiff. On 7 October 2003, the Circuit Court of Cook County in Illinois dismissed this plaintiff’s case against the former manufacturers of lead pigment and rejected its claim that the defendants had created a “public nuisance.” Commenting on this verdict, the campaign group stated: “In dismissing the City’s public nuisance lawsuit, the Court rejected the City’s attempt to shift responsibility for lead paint removal from the owners of the affected properties to a selected group of companies. The City’s lawsuit has been a misguided attempt to reverse the policies established by the State legislature and by the Illinois Department of Health, which have concluded that intact lead paint is not a hazard. Enforcement efforts should focus on landlords and property owners who allow lead paint to deteriorate. Similar public nuisance suits also have been dismissed by the Courts in Milwaukee, Santa Clara (California) and New Jersey. Press release from: Companies Involved in Lead Pigment Litigation, USA. Tel: +1 866 202 2476. Website: http://www.leadlawsuits.com (7 Oct 2003)
HEALTH & SAFETY Lycopene red as a food colorant & antioxidant Several companies have recently been granted approvals for food additive products with lycopene as the key active ingredient. The lycopene is essentially a red colorant and acts in synergy with tocopherols and carotenoids to produce strong antioxidant properties when added to foods and beverages. Three products from BASF have received GRAS (generally recognized as safe) certification by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). LycoRed Natural Products Industries Ltd (of Israel) has received GRAS certification for its Lyc-O-Mato
product, which is described as a “tomato lycopene.” Chemical Market Reporter, 8 Sep 2003 (Website: http://www.chemicalmarketreporter.com) & NutraCos, 13 Aug 2003, 2 (3), 59-60
Prussian blue for treating radiation patients Prussian blue has been approved by the FDA as a treatment suitable for people exposed to radiation contamination, notably from caesium137 or thallium. More specifically, Heyl Chemisch-pharmazeutische Fabrik GmbH & Co KG (of Berlin) has received FDA certification for its product Radiogardase capsules, which contain ferric (III) hexacyanoferrate(II) as the key active ingredient. Radiogardase works by increasing the rate of elimination of radioactive caesium and thallium from the body. The FDA states that its approval is part of an ongoing effort to provide the American public with medical countermeasures in the event of a terrorist attack. The FDA has also published guidance notes entitled: “Prussian Blue – submitting a new drug application” to assist and encourage other manufacturers to put forward applications for Prussian blue products. Press release from: The Food &Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, USA. Website: http://www.fda.gov (2 Oct 2003)
TECHNOLOGY Clariant’s new red & green-shade yellow pigments Hostaperm Yellow H5G is a new, green-shade yellow pigment from Clariant. It offers good covering power and excellent weather-resistance. It is recommended in particular for aqueous- and solvent-based automotive coatings. Resistance to temperatures above 200°C means that it is also suitable for powder coatings and coil coatings. Novoperm THI Red 4G 70 from Clariant is a brilliant red colour with a yellow cast, which has very high covering power and good rheology. It is recommended for industrial coating applications. Farbe und Lack, 6 Aug 2003, 109 (8), 52 (in German)
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