ABOUT MAINLINE ENVIRONMENTAL


Mainline Environmental provides innovative environmental investigation, testing, expert services, and litigation support for our clients. Although we provide many different types of services, our main focus has been in Proposition 65, stormwater management, and construction. Mainline’ s highly qualified experts are available to assist with XRF and FTIR screening, product acquisition, human health exposure assessments, site assessments, risk assessments, environmental forensics and construction.

We also regularly work with fully accredited labs that are able test products for substances such as Phthalates, Bisphenol A, and Lead. These labs use testing methods including Gas Chromatographs/Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS), Liquid Chromatography Mass-Spectrometer (LC/MS/MS), and other Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) approved test methods. Mainline has a highly successful track record of providing innovative cost effective solutions to complex environmental issues.

Proposition 65

California Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”) requires companies doing business in California to notify consumers of potentially hazardous chemicals present in their products. For these products that may cause significant exposure to listed compounds, the warning label must state that the product “contains chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive harm”. For example, Prop 65 limits the daily exposure to specific phthalates. These phthalates, or phthalate esters, are mainly used as plasticizers, substances added to plastic to increase their flexibility and durability. Mainline’ s staff is able to assist you in the acquisition of products containing phthalates and the use of sophisticated tools necessary to screen these products. We will then work with accredited labs to have the products tested by GC/MS.

Prop 65 also regulates when warnings are necessary for products containing Lead. Lead is a toxic heavy metal used for years in the building and construction industry. Like other heavy metals lead is a potent neurotoxin that accumulates in soft tissues and bone over time. Lead poisoning was even documented in ancient times in Greece, Rome, and China. Lead poisoning damages the nervous system and can cause blood and brain disorders and has even been linked to learning disabilities in children at very low levels. Lead poisoning typically results from exposure to lead contaminated products, materials or lead based paint. Mainline’ s staff is able to assist you in the acquisition of products containing lead and the use of sophisticated tools necessary to screen these products. We will then work with accredited labs to have the products tested in accordance with CPSC approved test methods.

Bisphenol A (“BPA”) was recently added to the Prop 65 list. BPA is a chemical compound used to make plastics and is used in some plastic additives. BPA’s primary use is in the manufacture of epoxy resins and polycarbonate. Suspected of being hazardous to humans, reports began circulating in 2008 regarding consumer concerns regarding the use of BPA, particularly in infant bottles and food and beverage containers. Recent studies have confirmed and indicated that exposure can impact consumer health. Even at low levels, BPA can cause potentially lifelong health problems. BPA is an endocrine disruptor that simulates estrogen in the human body resulting in a potentially wide range of health issues. Mainline works with labs that are currently testing BPA with a detection limit of 0.1 parts per billion (“ppb”) by LC/MS/MS. The LC/MS/MS testing can detect organic compounds at ultra-low levels. Testing to this extremely low detection limit will determine if your products are in compliance with Prop 65 warning requirements.

Exposure Assessments

Not only is Mainline able to help you make the determination that a product contains one or more of a Prop 65 listed compound but we are also able to assist in the determination of if a product’s use will result in exposure of the compound to its user. Determining if a product and at what level a product will expose its user is critical for Prop 65. If a product contains a Prop 65 listed compound but does not expose its user a warning may not be required. Further many chemicals have safe harbor levels. This is an amount of daily exposure to that chemical that the State of California has determined to be safe.

Mainline’ s experts are able to perform detailed exposure assessments. An exposure assessment evaluates how much of a substance a person inhales, ingests or absorbs through the skin. We specialize in custom –designed assessments that employ scientifically sound methodologies. While adhering fully to appropriate evaluation criteria, we make full use of newly emerging information from the scientific community and advances in data and assessment methods to provide scientifically realistic estimates of potential risk.

Mainline’ s experts routinely perform assessments for consumer products used in the U.S. These assessments range in scope from a single population and single route of exposure to a combination assessments that include evaluation of potential risks to multiple populations exposed by multiple routes of exposure.

The Problem of Stormwater Pollution

Stormwater runoff is one of the most significant sources of water pollution in the nation and has been recognized as a leading cause of significant and cumulative harmful impact to our waterways. Stormwater runoff from industrial sites cause harm to humans and aquatic life. In particular, stormwater can contain heavy metal pollutants such as aluminum, chromium, copper, iron, lead, mercury, nickel, tin, and zinc, as well as high concentrations of suspended solids, and nitrate. Exposure and ingestion of these heavy metals can cause health problems in people and aquatic animals, including neurological, physiological, and reproductive effects.

The Clean Water Act

To help combat this problem, Clean Water Act (CWA) prohibits the discharge of any pollutants into the waters of the United States unless the discharge is in compliance with various enumerated CWA sections. Among other things, the CWA prohibits discharges not authorized by, or in violation of, the terms of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued pursuant to the CWA.

The CWA allows each state to administer its own EPA approved permit program for discharges. For example, in California the state Board and its nine Regional Boards have approval from the EPA to administer an NPDES permit program for the State. The State Board and Regional Boards issue individual and general NPDES permits regulating water pollutant discharges from various categories of dischargers including stormwater.

To be in compliance with the permit, all point source dischargers, including those discharging polluted stormwater must achieve technology based effluent limitations by utilizing the Best Available Technology Economically Achievable (BAT) for toxic and nonconventional pollutants. For conventional pollutants, dischargers are required to use the Best Conventional Pollutant Control Technology (BCT). In addition, discharges must Best Management Practices (BMPs) that constitute BAT and BCT to reduce or eliminate pollution.

Mainline’ s experts has experience investigating industrial sites to determine if the site is employing the required BAT, BCT and BMPs. We then advise as to the measures the site may take to become in compliance with its permit.

Construction Sites and Improved Land

Runoff from construction sites and improved (e.g., roofs, parking lots, roads) are under the jurisdiction of EPA’s NPDES program, which is regulated in California by 9 Regional Water Quality Control Boards. All construction projects regardless of size and all completed projects which have created or replaced impervious surfaces exceeding a threshold aggregate area (currently, 2500 sq. ft.) must use BMPs to detain storm water runoff and filter pollutants before being discharged to an off-site storm drainage system (e.g., catch basins, drainage ditches, creeks). On construction sites, temporary BMP measures may be used including silt fences, fiber rolls (wattles), truck tire wash-down sites, sediment traps, flocculants, geotextiles, and soil stockpile tarping. On completed projects (improved land), permanent BMP measures including permeable paving, mechanical sediment filters, and landscaping bio-filtration should be used.

Mainline’ s experts are able to investigate and/or review construction sites, blueprints, and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to assure compliance with all permit requirements.

Mainline Environmental

9350 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 203,
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone:(323) 300-6305
Email:info@mlenvironmental.com