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Needham, Mass. Company Received EPA Research Contract to Develop Personal Chemical Monitoring Device

Release Date: 03/09/2005
Contact Information:

Contact: Sheryl Rosner, EPA Office of Public Affairs, (617) 918-1865
Steven A. Lis, Ph.D., LightLine Technologies,Inc., stevenlis@comcast.net
Suzanne Ackerman, U.S. EPA, (202) 564-7819

For Immediate Release: March 9, 2005; Release # sr050305

Boston - EPA today announced that LightLine Technologies, Inc. of Needham, Mass., received $70,000 from the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts program in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). LightLine Technologies was chosen from a pool of 363 applicants from across the country.

"EPA is pleased to assist LightLine Technologies, Inc.in the development of their new technology," said Robert W. Varney, EPA's Regional Administrator. "This small business research contract is an important boost for a small business and will undoubtedly assist LightLine Technologies in funding the development of their new personal monitoring device that will be used to improve the health of workers who may be exposed to dangerous levels of chemicals at their jobs."

LightLine Technologies, Inc. proposes to develop a highly sensitive, monitoring device that can measure personal exposure to two chemicals that have been associated with occupational asthma. These chemicals, isocyanate and diisocyanate, are used worldwide on a very large scale to produce polyurethane and related products. They are especially important in auto body shops where most exposure occurs because of air transport. Current measurement methods, however, do not provide adequate, simultaneous sensing of these chemicals in air. LightLine's technology will allow each person to monitor exposure, ensuring the safe use of these chemicals during the production and use of a wide range of polyurethane products.

"We are pleased to receive this financial assistance as we work on the development of a new and important technology that we hope will one day be an industry standard for protecting workers from exposure to unsafe chemicals," said Dr. Steven Lis, President of LightLine Technologies, Inc.

The 22 million small businesses in the United States employ about 51 percent of the private work force and develop most of the country's new technologies. Years ago, Congress recognized the need to strengthen the role of small businesses in federally funded research and development and passes a law creating the Small Business Innovation Research program for businesses with no more than 500 employees. EPA's highly competitive SBIR program offers critical financial support to small businesses to develop the best, new, innovative technologies. EPA's SBIR program focuses on important areas related to environmental protection, including clean air and water, hazardous and solid wastes, pollution prevention, remediation, and monitoring. Recent issues include homeland security, clean-up technologies, and technology solutions for specific environmental needs.

The SBIR's next solicitation for developing environmental technologies will open on March 24, 2005 and close on May 25, 2005. To learn more about these research projects and EPA's SBIR program, please visit: www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir (EPA HQ).

EPA relies on quality science as the basis for sound policy and decision-making. EPA's laboratories, research centers, and grantees are building the scientific foundation needed to support the Agency's mission to safeguard human health and the environment.

Related Information:
Small Business Innovation Research Opportunities
Small Business Innovation Research Program (EPA HQ)