Risk Evaluation Finalized for Paint Chemical
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2024
Earlier this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final risk evaluation for a flame retardant and plasticizer used in paints and coatings, Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
According to the EPA, this is the first risk evaluation that it has finalized for the 20 High-Priority Substances designated in 2019. The draft for the evaluation was released at the end of last year.
About the Risk Evaluation
The agency explains that, while United States production of TCEP has decreased by about 99% since 2014, it is still used in the U.S. to make some paints and coatings, as well as a flame retardant and plasticizer for specific aerospace applications.
Historically, it was used in fabrics and textiles, foam seating and construction materials. It is also reportedly found in a range of goods that are imported into the United States.
Because TCEP is mixed into but not chemically bonded to materials, it can reportedly leach out of products and into the environment. The chemical can also be released into the environment from manufacturing processes or leaching from products, ending up in water, sediment, soil, dust or air.
The EPA writes that it found that TCEP presents unreasonable risk of kidney cancer and noncancer health effects to workers and consumers. Additionally, it determined that seven out of 21 conditions of TCEP use contribute significantly to the unreasonable risk to workers, including:
- Manufacturing imports;
- Paint and coating manufacturing;
- Polymers used in aerospace equipment and products;
- Aerospace equipment and products and automotive articles and replacement parts containing TCEP;
- Paints and coatings for industrial use;
- Paints and coatings for commercial use; and
- Laboratory chemicals.
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Earlier this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final risk evaluation for a flame retardant and plasticizer used in paints and coatings, Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), under the Toxic Substances Control Act. |
The agency reportedly found unreasonable risk from both inhalation and dermal exposures when workers are handling or applying liquid formulations containing TCEP. Workers with the greatest potential for exposure to TCEP are those who spray TCEP-containing paints or coatings, and workers who are involved in processing a two-part resin used in paints, coatings and polyurethane resin castings for aerospace applications.
TCEP was also found to pose unreasonable risk to consumers from three out of 21 conditions of use, including: fabric and textile products; foam seating and bedding products; and wood and engineered wood products.
Consumers are considered most at risk when they breathe or ingest dust from TCEP that comes off of fabrics, textiles, foam and wood products. Infants and children may also be at risk if they frequently mouth products containing foam, textiles or wood that contain TCEP. A single instance of exposure, such as a child mouthing a TCEP-containing product once, does not mean an individual will definitely suffer adverse health effects.
The agency explains that it found unreasonable risks for people who eat large amounts of fish contaminated with TCEP. The chemical can accumulate in fish if they live in a stream or other waterbody with high concentrations of TCEP.
These concerns were found to be particularly notable for groups that eat higher quantities of fish, such as subsistence fishers and Tribes. Tribal populations for whom fish is important dietarily and culturally have greater risk than the general population and subsistence fishers.
The EPA adds that TCEP presents unreasonable risk to the environment, specifically to fish chronically exposed to TCEP through surface water and sediment. The agency assessed TCEP exposures to the aquatic environment when TCEP leaches or is released into water through the manufacturing, processing, or use of TCEP or TCEP-containing materials. However, it did not find unreasonable risk to land-dwelling animals from exposure to TCEP.
The agency will now address the unreasonable risk presented by TCEP and release a proposed rule under TSCA from the risks identified. The full risk evaluation can be read here.
Tagged categories: Coating chemistry; Coatings; Construction chemicals; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); EPA; Health and safety; Paint; Regulations; Safety
