Recently, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and related regulations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the listing of five chemical substances as high-priority substances for risk assessment. This decision took effect on December 18, 2024.
Five Chemical Substances
- Acetaldehyde CAS NO: 75-07-0;
- Acrylonitrile CAS NO: 107-13-1;
- Benzenamine CAS NO: 62-53-3;
- Vinyl chloride CAS NO: 75-01-4; and
- 4,4′-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) CAS NO: 101-14-4
Background and Assessment Process
The designation of these high-priority substances was based on extensive public participation and scientific analysis. The EPA collected comments during two 90-day public comment periods, which played a crucial role in the final decision-making process. During the assessment, the EPA paid special attention to the conditions of use of these chemicals, potential health impacts, and environmental exposure risks. Additionally, factors such as the persistence, bioaccumulation, and proximity to critical drinking water sources of the chemicals were considered.
Potential Health and Environmental Impacts
The use of these five chemicals is quite common in industrial production, involving industries such as chemical manufacturing, plastics, and synthetic materials production. For example, vinyl chloride is a primary raw material for PVC plastics, while acetaldehyde is widely used in the production of food and cosmetics. The potential health impacts of these chemicals include causing cancer, respiratory diseases, and other long-term health issues.
Public Participation
The public can access specific information about each chemical substance, the basis for analysis, and detailed guidelines for risk assessment by visiting the EPA's official website and specific online document libraries. Additionally, the EPA has established specific channels for this assessment process, such as technical information contacts and the TSCA hotline, to enable the public and stakeholders to obtain more information and engage in discussions.
The EPA stated that this action primarily targets entities that may manufacture (including import) chemicals regulated under TSCA, such as chemical processors, distributors, and users. The next three years will be a critical period for assessing the risks of these chemicals to determine whether they pose an unreasonable risk to health or the environment under the conditions of use.
Through this action, the EPA continues to fulfill its responsibility to protect public health and environmental safety, ensuring the safe use and management of chemicals.
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