TURI staff hope that you and your friends and family are doing well. We continue to work from home on online trainings, research and policy work as well as answering questions about cleaning and disinfecting amid the pandemic. We decided to issue the request for grant proposals in a moment of optimism for next fiscal year. For TUR planners, note the article below about reporting delays. Take care and stay safe.
Call for Proposals: Apply for a TURI Grant
TURI invites grant proposals for projects that reduce toxic chemical use in businesses, communities, towns and cities.

Funds can be used to offset the cost of technology, safer products, workshops and materials and other expenses. Submit your proposal by Monday, June 22, 2020.

Grant categories include:
Industry Grants of up to $30,000 are for manufacturing facilities to improve processes or install technology that results in reducing toxics. Learn more. Contact Joy Onasch.

Small Business Grants of up to $10,000 are for businesses that provide services directly to consumers to change processes or replace toxics with safer alternatives. Learn more. Contact Joy Onasch. 
Community Grants of up to $10,000 for local projects and up to $20,000 for regional or statewide projects are intended to create and promote healthier communities. Learn more. Contact Rachel Massey or Felice Kincannon.
Academic Research Grants in partnership with industry are available up to $25,000 for a one-year project and $35,000 for a two-year project. Learn more. Contact Greg Morose.
Please note: Grant funding is limited, and awards are contingent on the funding received by TURI in the new fiscal year (beginning July 1, 2020). TURI will make every effort to award grants as in past years; however, it is possible that funds available and the timing of the grants could be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
TURA Reporting During COVID-19
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MassDEP will treat as timely any Toxics Use Reduction (TUR) Plan Summary or Report filed up to 90 days after Governor Baker terminates the current state of emergency. View a summary with links to MassDEP websites .

Pursuant to the Governor's executive orders regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, MassDEP has extended the reporting and planning deadline for submission of the TURA Plan Summary and Report. The new extended reporting and planning deadlines can be found on these MassDEP websites:


In addition, TUR Planner certifications and recertifications that expire on or after March 10, 2020, are extended and shall remain valid until 90 days following the termination of the state of emergency.
Science Advisory Board Meeting on May 19
The next Science Advisory Board meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday, May 19, at 1:00 PM via Zoom. The agenda will focus on PFAS. Contact Heather Tenney for more information.
Virtual Conference Materials Available Online
TURI converted the in-person spring Continuing Education conference into a virtual conference that was well attended received very positive reviews from attendees. View our website for the slide presentations on the following topics:

  • Making the Most of your TUR Planning Activities: What to Focus on at this Stage of the Planning Process
  • PFAS Chemicals, Uses and Compliance Obligations
  • Developing a Financial and Strategic Analysis for Toxics Use Reduction Projects
  • Using Pharos to Evaluate Safer Chemical and Material Options

One of the benefits of online trainings is that more people from more locations can attend and learn about toxics use reduction. Since the virtual conference was such a positive experience, we plan to complement our in-person trainings with more virtual sessions in the future.

We want to thank Andrea Lynch for helping make this virtual conference a success. Andrea's last day with TURI was May 1. If you have any questions about training, please contact Pam Eliason.
NaDCC Fact Sheet: A Comparison with Bleach
TURI released a new fact sheet that outlines the advantages and disadvantages of NaDCC tablets as documented in the literature and summarized in test results from TURI's cleaning laboratory.

The active ingredient in the NaDCC tablet is sodium dichloroisocyanurate. The product forms a bubbly, acidic solution when the tablet is dissolved in water, generating hypochlorous acid to be used as a disinfectant.

The fact sheet compares the pros and cons of using bleach and NaDCC tablets.
UMass Lowell Professors and Students Target the Coronavirus
Three faculty-led research projects focused on immediate responses to COVID-19 pandemic received funding from the UMass Lowell Office of Research and Innovation. Read more.
Thirty undergraduate and graduate public health students from the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences have volunteered to work with local boards of health on contact tracing to help contain the coronavirus pandemic. Read more.
Plastics Engineering majors organized a small-scale COVID-19 response effort, using their 3D printing capabilities to crank out supplies for health care workers. Read more.