Walmart to end sales of e-cigarettes, as vaping concerns mount
September 20, 2019, The New York Times
Walmart said on Friday that it would stop selling e-cigarettes at its stores in the United States, dealing a new blow to the vaping industry as concerns mount over the health risks of the products and their soaring popularity among teenagers. “Given the growing federal, state and local regulatory complexity and uncertainty regarding e-cigarettes, we plan to discontinue the sale of electronic nicotine delivery products,” the retailer said in a statement on Friday.
U.S. House forces tip-over prevention standards with new bill
September 19, 2019, Woodworking Network
The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to pass a bill that would force the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) to set up standards that prevent furniture tip-overs. “Every hour, of every day, approximately 3 children are getting injured – over 25,400 per year. Between 2000 and 2011, these tip-overs have resulted in at least 363 fatalities, with most of the innocent victims being less than 8 years old,” said Illinois representative Jan Schakowsky, who introduced the bill. “I’m proud that the House has passed the STURDY Act today, so that we can protect children from these preventable accidents and spare their families these painful situations, resulting simply from a piece of furniture.” The bill was praised by consumer groups.
Vaping Illnesses Increase to 530 Probable Cases, C.D.C. Says
September 19, 2019, New York Times
The number of vaping-related lung illnesses has risen to 530 probable cases, according to an update on Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a Missouri man became the eighth to die from the mysterious ailments. During a news briefing, Dr. Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the C.D.C., said officials expect more deaths because some people are suffering from severe lung illnesses.
Industry groups urge Congress to check Trump’s power to tariff
September, 19, 2019, Advertising Specialty Institute
About two dozen industry lobbying groups led by the National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC) are calling on the United States Congress to limit President Donald Trump’s power to unilaterally impose import tariffs. The tariffs – and broader U.S./China trade war of which they’re an outgrowth – have had significant impacts on the domestic promotional products industry.
Google offshoot joins with Walgreens and FedEx to launch drone deliveries within a month
September 19, 2019, Los Angeles Times
One of the nation’s largest drugstore chains and a shipping service giant are joining forces with Alphabet Inc.’s Wing to begin a first-of-its-kind drone delivery service in October.Walgreens, FedEx Corp. and Wing, an offshoot of Google that was the first U.S. drone operator to receive partial certification as an airline, will begin the exploratory deliveries in the small town of Christiansburg, Va., the companies said in an announcement.
Case Study: How hoverboard makers neglected safety
September 19, 2019, EE Times
Compared to the recent catastrophic crashes of Boeing 737 Max airliners, the consumer hoverboards that “literally” caught fire in 2015 seem like small potatoes. The scale of damage caused by system failures in either case is vastly different. And yet, both times, the elements under scrutiny are safety design principles and the verification process that responsible parties were supposed to follow.
‘Defective’ Lime scooter left Indianapolis rider with traumatic brain injury, lawsuit says
September 20, 2019, Indianapolis Star
An Indianapolis woman who says she suffered life-threatening injuries this summer while riding a Lime scooter is suing the company for negligence, according to a federal lawsuit that describes the electric devices as potentially dangerous. Alleged flaws in at least one of Lime’s scooters posed dangers that Paula Speer wasn’t aware of when she used the device, causing her severe physical harm, the complaint filed Thursday said. The amount of damages being sought was not disclosed, but Speer’s attorney, Eric Pavlack, told IndyStar that his client seeks compensation for medical bills and pain and suffering.
Opinion: Chinese investments in Africa: Four anti-corruption trends to watch
September 19, 2019, Wharton School of Business
A recent bribery scandal involving Chinese business people is different from other cases involving corrupt practices, says this opinion writer. This case represents an important trend. It relates to U.S. authorities’ enforcement of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). While historically FCPA enforcement cases involving China have focused on multinational companies based in China, this one is different. It is an example of FCPA enforcement actions involving Chinese companies doing business outside China and around the world. U.S. FCPA enforcement around the world is nothing new, but this trend represents increased and deliberate focus by U.S. authorities.
Safety is paramount
September 19, 2019, pv magazine
The technological advances that Li-ion batteries have gone through in the past decade are monumental. Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries have become the leading technologies due to improved energy density and lower cobalt requirements. While new battery technologies are crucial in enabling new end-market applications, concerns from the automotive and power industries over their safety have grown. Over the past five months, IHS Markit has noted more than six EV battery fires, mainly in China and the United States, with various technical failures identified.
The types of plastics families should avoid
September 18, 2019, The New York Times
In a 2019 study, for instance, researchers screened 34 common plastic products — including plastic wraps, bags, food containers, drink bottles and place mats — and found that 74 percent of them tested positive for potentially toxic chemicals. While this study didn’t investigate whether the plastics were harmful to humans, it did indicate the need for more research. Together, the 34 products were found to contain 1,411 different chemical features, and the researchers were only able to match 18 percent of them with known chemicals. In other words, we hardly know what’s in many plastics, let alone how they might affect human health.
Wrap up of federal and state chemical regulations
September 18, 2019, JDSupra
A summary of chemical regulations news items and announcements from various regulatory authorities including the Environment Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration, and the European Commission.
