US EPA
Prevents Harmful Chemicals from Entering the Marketplace
December 17, 2014
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is taking action to protect the public from certain chemicals that have
the potential to cause a range of health effects from cancer to reproductive
and developmental harm to people and aquatic organisms.
“We are committed to
protecting all Americans from exposure to harmful chemicals used in domestic
and imported products,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for chemical
safety and pollution prevention. “There must be a level playing field for U.S.
businesses – which is why we’re targeting harmful chemicals no longer used in
the U.S. that find their way into commerce, sometimes through imported
products. This final action will give EPA the opportunity to restrict or limit
any new uses of these chemicals, including imported goods with these
chemicals.”
Today’s action
addresses the following chemicals:
Most
uses of certain benzidine-based dyes which can be used in textiles, paints and
inks and can be converted in the body into a chemical that is known to cause
cancer;
Most
uses of DnPP, a phthalate, which can be used in PVC plastics and shown to cause
developmental and/or
reproductive effects in laboratory animals; and
Alkanes
C 12-13, chloro, a short-chain chlorinated paraffin (SCCP), which
can be used as industrial lubricants and are persistent, bioaccumulative and
toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations and can be transported
globally in the environment.
Some of the
chemicals in today’s rule have previously been used in consumer products but
are not used in the market today. Today’s Significant
New Use Rules (SNURs) issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act
allow EPA to review any efforts by manufacturers, including importers, to
introduce these chemicals into the market and take appropriate action to ensure
that human health and the environment are protected. EPA believes that new uses
of these chemicals should not be allowed without an opportunity for review and,
if necessary, to place restrictions on these chemicals, as warranted.
The action adds nine benzidine-based dyes to an existing SNUR.
It closes a loophole to ensure that these chemicals
and products containing them, such as clothing, cannot be imported without EPA
review and possible restriction. EPA has investigated safer dyes and
colorants as alternatives to benzidine as part of its Safer Chemical
Ingredients List and Design for the Environment program.
In 2012, EPA
required companies to stop manufacturing and importing SCCPs and to pay fines
as a result of an enforcement action. The SCCPs have been proposed for addition
to the Stockholm Convention for Persistent Organic Pollutants: http://chm.pops.int/TheConvention/ThePOPs/ChemicalsProposedforListing/tabid/2510/Default.aspx
EPA is further
evaluating related medium-chain (MCCPs) and long-chain chlorinated paraffins
(LCCPs) as part of the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments.
EPA has added
several phthalates to the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments. If a TSCA
Work Plan assessment indicates a potential risk, the agency would determine if
risk reduction actions, as appropriate, should be taken.
These final SNURs
will require anyone who wishes to manufacture (including import) or process
these chemical substances for a significant new use to notify EPA 90 days
before starting or resuming new uses of these chemicals. This notice will
provide EPA with the opportunity to evaluate the intended use of the chemicals
and, if necessary, take action to prohibit or limit the activity.
Additional
information on this SNUR: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/managechemrisk.html#current.
Fact
sheet on benzidine-based dyes: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/benzidinefaq.html
Fact
sheet on DnPP:
Fact
sheet on Alkanes: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/actionplans/sccpsfaq.html