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About

Specialties

 

Technical expertise

Project management

Collaborations

Meetings/workshops/symposia

Writing

Training

Story of Toward Safer LLC

 

Toward Safer LLC was founded by Jennifer Young Tanir, PhD, in October 2017 to consult toward safer, more sustainable chemicals and products. 

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Chemicals and products should be safe for human health and the environment. And they should be sustainable, so the planet is protected and future generations can meet their needs of health and wellbeing. Many scientists working in industry, government, academia, and non-profit organizations are striving to make this the reality, but more needs to be done. Toward Safer strives to get us closer to the goal. 

Technical Topics

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Green chemistry

Chemicals management strategies

Chemical alternatives 

Hazard/exposure/risk assessment

Polymers/materials

Sustainability

Inspiration & Experience
More about the founder

 

Taking a walk outside, under the trees, reminds me how I want my work to make a difference, to preserve the planet for future generations to enjoy. I'm inspired to do this work each time I'm outside in nature.

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In college when I first heard about green chemistry, I decided to dedicate my career to protecting health and the environment through chemistry. I focused my research on polymers since they are so ubiquitous in the world. After four years gaining experience in the chemical industry at DuPont, I shifted my career into project management in the non-profit sector, working at the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute (ACS GCI) for seven years and at the ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) for six years. 

 

I've had the honor of working with many chemists, engineers, toxicologists, other types of scientists, and educators from across sectors and disciplines, on many types of collaborative projects. It's working with these excellent people that has inspired and encouraged me. These are the people who are getting us closer to safe, sustainable chemicals and products. 

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Now I'm excited to transfer my work experiences to new projects, learn new skills, seek new challenges and collaborators, and expand my knowledge and network through consulting. I've seen a lot of progress toward safer, more sustainable chemicals and products since I started in this field over 20 years ago as a student, but we still have a long way to go to reach the ideal sustainability. By working together, with the brightest minds and innovative thinkers, we can get closer to the goal.

Selected Publications

 

  1. Greggs W, Burns T, Egeghy P, Embry MR, Fantke P, Gaborek B, Heine L, Jolliet O, Lee C, Muir D, Plotzke K, Rinkevich J, Sunger N, Tanir JY, Whittaker M. (2018) Qualitative approach to comparative exposure in alternatives assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manage. First published 19 June 2018. doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4070.

  2. Rao VM, Francis RA, Tanir JY. (2018) Analyzing chemical substitution decisions among chemical and product manufacturers. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy. First Online 22 November 2018. doi.org/10.1007/s10098-018-1643-y. 

  3. Whittaker M, Klapacz J, Alyea R, Arnold S, Guerrette Z, Heine L, Kawa M, Kong J, Miller J, Sarang S, Spencer P, Tanir JY, Tunkel J, Vargas S, Voutchkova-Kostal A, Wang B, Ward D, Williams J. (2018) Best practices guide for identifying and addressing human health and environmental data gaps during product development (idea stage to end of life). In preparation.

  4. Dellarco M, Zaleski R, Gaborek B, Qian H, Bellin C, Egeghy P, Heard N, Jolliet O, Lander D, Sunger N, Stylianou K, Tanir JY. (2017). Using Exposure Bands for Rapid Decision-making in the RISK21 Tiered Exposure Assessment. Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 47:4, 317-341.

  5. Dearfield KL, Gollapudi BB, Bemis JC, Benz RD, Douglas GR, Elespuru RK, Johnson GE, Kirkland DJ, LeBaron MJ, Li AP, Marchetti F, Pottenger LH, Rorije E, Tanir JY, Thybaud V, van Benthem J, Yauk CL, Zeiger E, and Luijten M (2017) Next-generation testing strategy for assessment of genomic damage: a conceptual framework and considerations. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis.  58: 264–283. 

  6. Doe JE, Lander DR, Doerrer NG, Heard N, Hines RN, Lowit AB, Pastoor T, Phillips RD, Sargent D, Sherman JH, Tanir JY, Embry MR. (2016). Use of the RISK21 roadmap and matrix: human health risk assessment of the use of a pyrethroid in bed netting. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 46: 54-73.

  7. van der Laan JW, Gould S, Tanir JY (2015) Safety of vaccine adjuvants: focus on autoimmunity. Vaccine. 2015 Mar 24;33(13):1507-14.

  8. Embry MR, Bachman AN, Bell DR, Boobis AR, Cohen SM, Dellarco M, Dewhurst IC, Doerrer NG, Hines RN, Moretto A, Pastoor TP, Phillips RD, Rowlands CJ, Tanir JY, Wolf DC, Doe JE. (2014) Risk assessment in the 21st century: Roadmap and matrix. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 44:6-16.

  9. Johnson GE, Soeteman-Hernández LG, Gollapudi BB, Bodger OG, Dearfield KL, Heflich RH, Hixon JG, Lovell DP, MacGregor JT, Pottenger LH, Thompson CM, Abraham L, Thybaud V, Tanir JY, Zeiger E, van Benthem J, White PA. (2014) Derivation of point of departure (PoD) estimates in genetic toxicology studies and their potential applications in risk assessment. Environ Mol Mutagen, 55(8):609-23.

  10. Pastoor TP, Bachman AN, Bell DR, Cohen SM, Dellarco M, Dewhurst IC, Doe JE, Doerrer NG, Embry MR, Hines RN, Moretto A, Phillips RD, Rowlands CJ, Tanir JY, Wolf DC, Boobis AR. (2014) A 21st century roadmap for human health risk assessment. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 44:1-5.

  11. Young JL and Peoples R. (2013) ConfChem Conference on Educating the Next Generation: Green and Sustainable Chemistry¬-Education Resources from the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, Journal of Chemical Education, 90(4):513-514.

  12. Ferguson P, Harding M, and Young J, “Green Analytical Chemistry,” chapter in Green Techniques for Organic Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry (Eds: W. Zhang and B.W. Cue, Jr.), 2012, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd: UK.

  13. Young JL and Raynie DE. “Replacement of Hazardous Solvents and Reagents in Analytical Chemistry” chapter in Green Analytical Chemistry Challenges, (Ed: M. de la Guardia), 2011, Royal Society of Chemistry: Cambridge, UK.

  14. Young JL and Peoples R. “Green Chemistry”, essay in Chemistry for Changing Times, Hill, J. W., et. al. 13th Ed., 2011, Prentice Hall: NJ.

  15. Young JL. “Greener Polymers”, Green Chemistry essay in Chemistry for Changing Times, Hill, J. W., 12th Ed., 2009, Pearson Prentice Hall: NJ.

  16. Young JL, Woerdeman DL, Selling GW. (2007) Multifaceted and Emerging Research on Renewable Materials, Journal of Biobased Materials and Bioenergy, 1(2), 1-5.

  17. Keith LH, Gron LU, Young JL. (2007) Green Analytical Methodologies, Chemical Reviews, 107, 2695-2708.

  18. Young JL and DeSimone JM. (2005) Advantages of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide for Composite Particle Synthesis Using Water-Soluble or Water-Sensitive Monomers, Macromolecules, 38, 4542-4544.

  19. Young JL and DeSimone JM. (2000) Frontiers in Green Chemistry Utilizing Carbon Dioxide for Polymer Synthesis, Pure Applied Chemistry, 72(7), 1357-1363.

  20. Kendall JL, Canelas DA, Young JL and DeSimone JM. (1999) Polymerizations in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, Chemical Reviews, 99, 543-563.

Technical
Expertise
Selected Publications
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