A Message from TURI's New Director
It is with great pleasure that I'm writing to you for the first time as director of TURI. Since assuming my functions at TURI, every day I have found new reasons to be excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

I would like to express my thanks and admiration for the able leadership of my predecessors, namely Ken Geiser, Michael Ellenbecker, Christopher Hansen and Joel Tickner.  

TURI is more important than ever to protect the health and well-being of communities while supporting business success. Recently, Massachusetts decided to include a broad range of the so-called “forever chemicals” (i.e., per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS) under the TURA legislation. This, and the expert resources TURI brings, will help Massachusetts companies focus on prevention and safer alternatives, and will undoubtedly serve as a model and inspiration for prevention elsewhere in the U.S. and abroad.

In the coming months, I hope to meet many of you online or in person, perhaps at the Spring Continuing Education Conference on April 13, if not before.

I look forward to sharing further news of TURI’s progress as it unfolds. In the meantime, feel free to contact me with any comments or questions at Baskut_Tuncak@uml.edu.

Happy holidays,

Baskut Tuncak
Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Fact Sheet
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs or "quats"), which are found in some disinfectants, are associated with skin irritation and respiratory issues such as asthma. As the demand for quats-based disinfectants increased as a result of the pandemic, TURI has developed a new fact sheet to help companies and communities understand the hazards, uses and safer alternatives. It also lists the QACs that the Science Advisory Board recommended be added to the TURA list of Toxic or Hazardous Substances.
Save the Date for the Spring Continuing Education Conference
We're holding the TURA Spring Continuing Education on April 13 at the Marriott Boston in Marlborough (75 Felton St). This will be our first opportunity to be back in person together. It will also be an opportunity for you all to meet TURI's new director, Baskut Tuncak.

We hope that we'll be able to safely hold an in-person event. If that isn't possible due to COVID, we'll hold the conference virtually once again.

If you any questions, or ideas for sessions, contact Pam Eliason.
Fall Continuing Education Conference Materials Available
View all of the presentations, materials and webinar recordings on our website. The session topics included:

  • Lean Manufacturing and Toxics Use Reduction
  • Fundamentals: Building a Creative Toxics Use Reduction Team
  • Water Conservation in the Age of Climate Change
  • PFAS: What You Need To Know and Do
  • Metal Finishing and TUR Solutions
Certain PFAS NOL Category Regulations Finalized
On December 7, 2021, the Administrative Council on Toxics Use Reduction unanimously voted on final regulations to amend 301 CMR 41: Toxic or Hazardous Substance List (TURA List). These final regulations included adding minor changes to the draft regulations in response to comments resulting in the addition of Certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Not Otherwise Listed (Certain PFAS NOL) as a category on the TURA List.


TURI is working with the Office of Technical Assistance and MassDEP on guidance for companies that need to track and report usage on PFAS. This information will be shared with TUR filers and planners soon.

Key dates:

  • End of December 2021 - Regulations published
  • 2022 - Companies track use of PFAS
  • July 1, 2023 - Companies report above-threshold use
Next Science Advisory Board Meeting
The next Science Advisory Board meeting will be held virtually on January 12 at 2 p.m. to discuss pulmonary toxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. View the agenda and Zoom information. Contact Heather Tenney with any questions.
Happy Holidays to All
All TURI staff wish you and your families a happy, safe and healthy holiday season.