Rachel Massey

Rachel I. Massey, Sc.D.

Senior Research Associate

Pronouns
She/her
College
Health Sciences
Department
Lowell Center for Sustainable Production
Phone
978-934-3124
Office
820 Broadway St.
Email
rachel_massey@uml.edu

Research Interests

  • Toxics use reduction, pollution prevention, and green chemistry
  • State, federal and international chemicals policy
  • Economic analysis of environmental policies
  • Alternatives assessment

Education

  • Sc.D. Work Environment (2020), University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • M.P.A. Public Affairs (2000), Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs
  • M.Sc. Environmental Change and Management (1997), Oxford University
  • B.A./M.A. Latin American Studies (1994), University of Chicago

Biosketch

Rachel Massey is a Senior Research Associate at the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production. Until 2022, she served as Senior Associate Director and Senior Policy Analyst at the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI). Her areas of work include policy development at the state, federal and international levels, as well as work with community organizations and large and small businesses. In 2022, she received the first Ken Zarker Memorial P2 Champion Award from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable.

Rachel’s project areas have included analyzing the effects of state-level chemical policy changes on businesses and communities; conducting policy analyses for changes to the Massachusetts list of reportable substances; applying the lessons of the Toxics Use Reduction Act program to chemicals policy development nationally and internationally; analyzing opportunities for improving information flow related to toxic chemicals in products; and managing TURI’s community and small business grants program. She has managed numerous projects for European government agencies and for the United Nations Environment Programme. Rachel also works in close collaboration with community organizations, providing assistance related to identification and adoption of safer alternatives to toxic chemicals.

Prior to her work at TURI and the Lowell Center, Rachel helped to create and lead the program on Economics for Health and the Environment at the Global Development and Environment Institute at Tufts University. Rachel currently serves as the Senior Science and Policy Advisor for the Collaborative for Health and Environment.

Selected Publications

  • De Boer, J, Llompart M, Massey R, Dinan W, Clapp R, Watterson A. (2021). “Letter to the Editor of Risk Analysis on the de Vries et al. Article (2021) on the Role of the Media in Communicating about Risks Linked to Crumb Rubber.” Risk Analysis 41:12, 2021.
  • Massey R, Pollard L, Jacobs M, Onasch J, Harari H. (2020). “Artificial Turf Infill: A Comparative Assessment of Chemical Contents.” New Solutions 30:1, 10-26.
  • United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). (2019). UNEP Guidance: National Authority for Chemicals Control: Structure and Funding. Geneva: UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch. (Contributing writer.)
  • United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). UNEP Guidance: Risk Reduction Tools for Chemicals Control. Geneva: UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch. (Contributing writer.)
  • United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). UNEP Guidance: Enforcement of Chemicals Control Legislation. Geneva: UNEP Chemicals and Health Branch. (Contributing writer.)
  • Massey R, Onasch J, Pollard L. Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2018). Athletic Playing Fields: Choosing Safer Options for Health and the Environment. TURI Report #2018-002.
  • Pollard L and Massey R. Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2018). Playground Surfacing: Choosing Safer Materials for Children’s Health and the Environment. TURI Report #2018-003.
  • Geiser K, Massey R, Pollard L. (2018). Considering New Directions for Chemicals Policies: A Background Document for On-Going Discussions in the Republic of Korea. Report prepared for Wonjin Institute of Occupational and Environmental Health. December 2018.
  • Massey R and Jacobs M. (2018). “The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act: Reducing the Use of Carcinogens.” In Musu T and Vogel L. 2018. Cancer and Work: Understanding Occupational Cancers and Taking Action to Eliminate Them. Brussels: European Trade Union Institute. Chapter 13, pages 123-131.
  • Massey R. (2017). “A Business Prescription for Reducing Toxic Chemical Use.” The Right Chemistry on Greenbiz Insights, October 18, 2017.
  • Massey R and Jacobs M. (2017). Toxics Use Reduction and Resource Conservation: Competitiveness Impacts for Massachusetts Businesses. Lowell, MA: Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute.
  • Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2016). “Athletic Playing Fields and Artificial Turf: Considerations for Municipalities and Institutions.” (Principal author.)
  • Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2016). “Updates to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): Changes to the State-Federal Relationship: Preemption Provisions.” TURI fact sheet. (Principal author.)
  • Geiser K and Massey R. (2016). “Global Chemicals Outlook II: Trends in Production, Consumption and Release of Chemicals and their Environmental, Health and Social Effects.” Chapter contributed to 2019 Global Chemicals Outlook II publication. Full 2019 publication.
  • Massey R, Harriman E, Tenney H. (2015). Decision-Making under TURA: Resources for the TURA Administrative Council and Advisory Bodies. TURI Methods and Policy Report No. 28. Lowell, MA: Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute.
  • Jacobs MM, Massey RI, Tenney H, Harriman E. (2014). “Reducing the use of carcinogens: the Massachusetts experience.” Reviews on Environmental Health 2014; 29(4): 319-40. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2014-0048.
  • Massey R. and Jacobs M. (2013). “Global Chemicals Outlook: Trends and Indicators.” In United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Global Chemicals Outlook: Toward Sound Management of Chemicals. Nairobi and Geneva: UNEP.
  • Jacobs MM., Massey RI and Clapp R. W. (2013). “The Burden of Cancer from Organic Chemicals.” In Carpenter, David O., Effects of Persistent and Bioactive Organic Pollutants on Human Health. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Jacobs, M., Tenney, H., Massey, R., and Harriman, E. (2013). Opportunities for Cancer Prevention: Trends in the Use and Release of Carcinogens in Massachusetts. Toxics Use Reduction Institute Methods and Policy Report No. 29. Lowell, Massachusetts: Toxics Use Reduction Institute, University of Massachusetts Lowell.
  • Massey R., Tenney H., and Harriman E. (2012). “Higher Hazard Substances under the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act: Lessons from the First Four Years,” New Solutions 21:3, 457-476.
  • Massey R. (2011). "Program assessment at the 20 year mark: Experiences with TURA." Journal of Cleaner Production, 19(5).
  • Becker M., Edwards S., Massey R. (2010). “Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children’s Products: Limitations of Current Responses and Recommendations for Government and Industry.” Environmental Science and Technology 44:21.
  • Massey, R., with Pamela Eliason, Elizabeth Harriman, Janet Hutchins, Joy Onasch, and Heather Tenney. Toxics Use Reduction Institute. (2009). Toxics Use Reduction Act Program Assessment (University of Massachusetts Lowell: Toxics Use Reduction Institute). 72 pgs.
  • Massey R. (2008). “Sharing Knowledge about Chemicals: Policy Options for Facilitating Information Flow,” chapter in Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, Options for State Chemicals Policy Reform: A Resource Guide, pgs. 69-96.
  • Ackerman F and Massey R. (2008). “Costs of Preventable Childhood Illness,” chapter in Frank Ackerman, Poisoned for Pennies: The Economics of Toxics and Precaution, pgs. 141-160.
  • Massey R, Hutchins J, Becker M, and Tickner J. (2008). Toxic Substances in Articles: The Need for Information (Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers). Report commissioned by the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI). 91 pgs.
  • Ackerman F, Stanton E, and Massey R. (2007). “European Chemical Policy and the United States: Impacts of REACH on the US.” Renewable Resources Journal 25(1). Also published as Global Development and Environment Institute Working Paper No. 06-06, September 2006.
  • Ambachtsheer J; Kron J; Liroff R; Little T; Massey R. (2007). Fiduciary Guide to Toxic Chemical Risk. Report of the Investor Environmental Health Network and Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment. 50 pgs.
  • Ackerman F, Andersson A, Massey R, Roach B, Stanton E, Widenoja R (researchers). (2006). Implications of REACH for the Developing Countries: Possible Ways and Means to Preserve their Interests. Report published by the European Parliament.
  • Ackerman F, Heinzerling L, and Massey R. (2005). "Applying Cost-Benefit Analysis to Past Decisions: Was Protecting the Environment Ever a Good Idea?" Administrative Law Review Vol. 57, No. 1, Winter 2005, pgs 155-192.
  • Massey R. (2005). Building a Healthy Economy: Chemicals Risk Management as a Driver of Development. Report published by the Swedish Chemicals Agency (KemI). 81 pgs.
  • Ackerman F and Massey R. (2004). The True Costs of REACH. Report published by the Nordic Council of Ministers, on European chemicals policy, 2004. 70 pgs.
  • Ackerman F and Massey R. (2005). French Industry and Sustainable Chemistry: The Benefits of Clean Development. Global Development and Environment Institute. 56 pgs. Also available in French.
  • Options for Diverting PVC from the Incineration Waste Stream in Maine. Global Development and Environment Institute, 2005. With Brian Roach and Frank Ackerman. 23 pgs.
  • Nally S, Massey R, McClennen C, Dubson, D. (2004). "Greening the Campus Grounds: Blueprint for Organic Turf Management at Tufts." Background paper for the Tufts Institute for the Environment. 29 pgs.
  • Massey R. (2004). Environmental Justice. Educational module for use in college economics courses, published in Global Development and Environment Institute educational modules series. 24 pgs.
  • Massey R. and Ackerman F. (2003). Costs of Preventable Childhood Illness: The Price We Pay for Pollution. Report for the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow, September 2003. 38 pgs.
  • Ackerman F. and Massey R. (2003). The Economics of Phasing Out PVC. Global Development and Environment Institute, December 2003. 57 pgs.
  • Ackerman F and Massey R. (2002). Prospering with Precaution: Employment, Economics, and the Precautionary Principle. Global Development and Environment Institute, 2002. 10 pgs.