EPA releases annual report on chemical risk evaluations

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency has published a report on risk evaluations as part of requirements established by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.

The report, which will be released annually, confirms that the process has begun for the first 10 chemicals to be evaluated under the act, which amended the Toxic Substances Control Act by mandating that EPA evaluate existing chemicals under specific deadlines. These chemicals are:

• 1,4-Dioxane – used in consumer products
• 1-Bromopropane – used in consumer products
• Asbestos – used in chlor-alkali production, consumer products, coatings and compounds, plastics, roofing products, and other applications
• Carbon Tetrachloride – used in commercial and industrial products
• Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster – used as a flame retardant in extruded polystyrene foam, textiles and electrical and electronic appliances
• Methylene Chloride – used in consumer products
• N-Methylpyrrolidone – used in consumer products
• Pigment Violet 29 – used in consumer products
• Tetrachloroethylene – used in consumer products
• Trichloroethylene – used in consumer products and dry cleaning

EPA stated that it expects to issue a scoping document for each chemical by June 19. The scoping documents will include information on the hazards, exposures, conditions of use and the subpopulations that may be exposed. The agency also said it has established separate, individual dockets for each chemical, and is accepting comments.

EPA hosted a public meeting on Feb. 14 regarding the first 10 chemicals. Under the law, the agency is required to complete risk evaluations within 3 to 3.5 years.

Beyond the first 10 chemicals, EPA is required to establish a process for risk evaluation prioritization. The agency has issued proposed rules on this process and submitted a report to Congress detailing the resources it believes are needed to fulfill risk evaluation work.