EPA pushes for partial ban of 1-BP

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to ban many commercial uses of the carcinogenic chemical 1-bromopropane and require worker protections for the remaining uses.

On July 31, EPA announced its intent to publish a proposed rule to regulate 1-BP. The chemical is frequently used as a solvent in consumer products.

A final revised risk determination published in December 2022 states that the substance poses unreasonable risk to workers involved in operations including domestic manufacturing, importing, processing as a reactant, repacking, recycling, and use as a solvent for cleaning or degreasing.

Under the proposal, EPA would ban all commercial uses of 1-BP apart from those related to insulation for building and construction materials. “EPA determined that this use did not contribute to the unreasonable risk to people,” an agency press release states.

Although EPA would permit the continued use of 1-BP in vapor and aerosol degreasing, electronics, and electronic and metal products, the proposed rule would mandate that nonfederal employers in these industries establish within one year a workplace chemical protection program that sets chemical exposure limits.

Additionally, nonfederal workers involved in manufacturing, processing, recycling and disposal would be required to use chemical-resistant gloves within six months.

The release notes that “many workplaces already employ stringent controls to reduce exposures to 1-BP.” Existing controls in various workplaces, such as those using the chemical in vapor degreasing, “may already sufficiently reduce exposure to meet the inhalation exposure concentration limit” in the proposal, the agency adds.

1-BP is among the first 10 chemicals under evaluation for potential health and environmental risks under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.

“The science shows that 1-BP can cause cancer and other serious health problems, and today’s action is an important step to use the power of our nation’s chemical safety law to finally protect people from this dangerous chemical and prevent cancer-causing exposure,” Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator of the EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said in the release. “Our proposal would end all unsafe consumer exposures from this chemical and put strict protections in place for workers to ensure critical uses can continue safely.”

EPA will accept public comment for 45 days after the proposal is published.

A webinar providing an overview of the proposal is scheduled for 1 p.m. Eastern on Aug. 28.

UPDATE: EPA published the final rule in the Aug. 8 Federal Register. The agency will accept comments until Sept. 9.