The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strengthens controls on chemical substances.
Following Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson's pledge to strengthen regulations and reform its toxic substance control system, the EPA released a list of four chemicals with negative impacts on human health and the environment on December 30, 2009, including plasticizers. The EPA plans to first establish a "Chemicals of Concern List," thereby incorporating them into regulatory frameworks to protect humans and the environment in a way that minimizes risks. The EPA believes that the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 is outdated and urgently needs reform.
Besides phthalates, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and perfluorinated compounds such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are also chemicals of concern to the Environmental Protection Administration. These chemicals have wide applications in a considerable number of products, thus attracting the attention of regulatory authorities.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that three U.S. companies have agreed to ban decabromodiphenyl ether (Deca-BDE). Deca-BDE is a commonly used fire retardant in the industry, but research reports indicate that this fire retardant carries potential carcinogenic risks and may have negative brain effects.
On September 29, 2009, the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released relevant guidelines as a reference for future updates to chemical management policies. Related initiatives included:
u Add plasticizers and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) to the list of chemicals of concern
u Conduct risk and hazard assessments to reduce the risks and hazards of various plasticizers, short-chain chlorinated paraffins, perfluorinated compounds, and other chemical substances.
u Strengthen efforts to ban decabromodiphenyl ether (expected to meet the ban requirements within 3 years), and ensure that any new uses of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been assessed by the Environmental Protection Administration before entering the market.
For information regarding the Environmental Protection Department's (EPD) reforms to chemical substance regulations and related matters, please refer to the following EPD website:
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals
– Reference source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website, 2009-12-30
– Translated by Plastic Industry Technology Development Center
– For reference only, please refer to the original text
