Risk Eval Draft Released for Paint Chemical
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2023
Yesterday (Dec. 14), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published its draft risk evaluation for Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
TCEP is a chemical used in used in paints and coatings, aerospace applications, fabrics and textiles, foam seating and construction materials. Additionally, it is found in a range of goods that are imported into the United States.
According to the emailed release, the agency has used the best available science to preliminarily determine that the chemical poses unreasonable risk to human health and the environment. This is also the first draft risk evaluation EPA has released for the 20 High-Priority Substances prioritized in 2019.
About the Risk Evaluation
The EPA explains that, while U.S. 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.
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.
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Yesterday (Dec. 14), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published its draft risk evaluation for Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) under the Toxic Substances Control Act. |
The agency assessed both inhalation and dermal exposures for workers, finding unreasonable risk from these exposures. However, the EPA did not assume that workers always and appropriately wear personal protective equipment and will consider information on use of PPE, engineering controls and other ways the industry protects its workers.
In terms of consumers, the EPA says it assessed inhalation, dermal and ingestion exposure to consumers, finding unreasonable risk from breathing or ingesting TCEP that comes out of textiles or other products and gets into indoor air.
Additionally, the agency found that infants and children may be at risk if they frequently mouth products containing foam, textiles or wood that contain TCEP for long periods of time.
TCEP can also accumulate in fish if they live in a stream or other waterbody with high concentrations of the chemical. EPA found unreasonable risk for people eating fish taken from TCEP-contaminated water.
Another subpopulation EPA included in its evaluation was infants exposed through human milk (e.g. breastfeeding). EPA estimated exposure and found that infants were at less risk than their mothers.
The EPA also proposes to find that TCEP presents unreasonable risk to the environment, specifically to aquatic organisms chronically exposed to TCEP through surface water and sediment.
Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, the agency will accept public comments on the draft risk evaluation and associated supporting documents for 60 days. It also invites submission of more specific exposure information to help refine chemical risk estimates for the final risk evaluation.
The draft risk evaluation will also undergo a letter peer review by independent scientific and technical experts. The EPA will then use feedback received from the letter peer review and public comments to inform the final risk evaluation.
The full draft risk evaluation can be found here.
EPA 20 High-Priority Substances
At the end of 2019, the EPA announced it had finalized the list of the next 20 chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the TSCA. 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.
Tagged categories: Coating Materials - Commercial; Coatings; Construction chemicals; Environmental Controls; Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); EPA; Government; Health & Safety; Health and safety; Paint; Regulations; Safety
