Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants input on documents related to five chemicals that can “directly affect the air” workers breathe, including a flame retardant found to present “unreasonable” risk.
EPA on June 16 released a draft risk evaluation stating that 4,4′-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] – a white, crystalline solid – poses unreasonable risk to workers through inhalation exposure.
Also known as TBBPA, the substance primarily is used as a reactant for flame retardants in plastic material and resin manufacturing as well as a flame retardant incorporated into electrical equipment. EPA found that unreasonable risk from “chronic inhalation exposure” was present under three conditions of use:
- Manufacture – domestic manufacturing
- Manufacture – import
- Processing – repackaging
The deadline to comment is Aug. 17.
Additionally, EPA on June 12 published technical support documents as the agency develops draft risk evaluations for four other substances:
- Ethylene dibromide (also known as 1,2-dibromoethane), a colorless liquid used as a fuel additive and found in workplace exposures related to import, repackaging, fuel-related uses, laboratory work and waste handling
- Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, a colorless liquid used as a solvent in processing and in formulations for cleaning and degreasing
- 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, a colorless and possibly carcinogenic liquid used in plastic, petrochemical, and other chemical product and preparation manufacturing; adhesives and sealants; and as a laboratory chemical
- 1,2-Dichloropropane, a colorless liquid used as an intermediate in chemical product manufacturing, an industrial processing aid for paper sizing agents, as a laboratory chemical, and in cleaning and furnishing care products
“EPA is paying particular attention to the people most at risk” – including workers with the heaviest exposures – “and welcomes comment on how real-world exposures should be reflected.”
As required under the Toxic Substances Control Act, EPA has scheduled a meeting of its Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals to review documents before publishing final risk evaluations. SACC is slated to meet virtually from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern on Aug. 3-7.
