EPA Finalizes List of 20 High-Priority Chemicals
MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020
Late last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in an emailed press release that it had finalized the list of the next 20 chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
“Today we are continuing to deliver on the promise of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act to assess and review existing chemicals in the marketplace,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler.
“EPA is committed to transparency and being open with the public as these chemicals move through this TSCA process to evaluate the risks these chemicals may pose to public health and the environment.”
The Chemicals
The EPA announced that the list of substances, which were initially flagged at high-priority in March 2019, was moving forward to public comments in August.
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Late last month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in an emailed press release that it had finalized the list of the next 20 chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act. |
The EPA issued documents for each substance that describes chemical-specific information, analysis and basis that the EPA used to support the proposed designation and comments were due by Nov. 21.
The 20 proposed high-priority chemicals include seven chlorinated solvents, six phthalates, four flame retardants, formaldehyde, a fragrance additive and a polymer precursor.
The full list includes:
- p-Dichlorobenzene;
- 1,2-Dichloroethane;
- trans-1,2- Dichloroethylene;
- o-Dichlorobenzene;
- 1,1,2-Trichloroethane;
- 1,2-Dichloropropane;
- 1,1-Dichloroethane;
- Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) (1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1,2- dibutyl ester);
- Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) - 1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1- butyl 2(phenylmethyl) ester;
- Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) - (1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1,2- bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester);
- Di-isobutyl phthalate (DIBP) - (1,2-Benzene- dicarboxylic acid, 1,2- bis-(2methylpropyl) ester);
- Dicyclohexyl phthalate;
- 4,4'-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2, 6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA);
- Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP);
- Phosphoric acid, triphenyl ester (TPP);
- Ethylene dibromide;
- 1,3-Butadiene;
- 1,3,4,6,7,8-Hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta [g]-2-benzopyran (HHCB);
- Formaldehyde; and
- Phthalic anhydride.
By 2020, the EPA will finalize the scoping documents that will include hazards, exposure, conditions of use and the potentially exposed or susceptible populations that the EPA expects to consider during the risk evaluations for each chemical. The agency will also take public comments at that time.
The agency notes that it is still reviewing the initial public comments on its list of 20 low-priority chemicals that was also proposed in August. This should be finalized early this year.
Tagged categories: EPA; EPA; Government; Health & Safety; Health and safety; Regulations; Safety
