REGULATION
EPA finalizes TSCA rules But concerns grow about potential conflicts of interest It’s been one year since the Toxic Substances Control Act got a major overhaul, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has been working diligently to meet several congressionally mandated deadlines under the revised law. On June 22, EPA finalized three regulations that will steer the agency as it puts the revised law into action. One of the rules lays out the procedures that EPA will follow to determine which chemicals were made in, or imported into, the U.S. during the past 10 years. The other two set out how EPA will prioritize and evaluate the potential risks of those chemicals. Implementation of the updated TSCA appears to be on track, but some members of Congress and environmental groups are raising concerns about conflicts of interest within EPA’s office that oversees TSCA. In particular, they worry that Nancy Beck, formerly an official with the chemical industry group American Chemistry Council, is now at EPA playing a key role in TSCA implementation, including completion of the three rules. These three regulations “will directly affect the financial interests of companies
represented by her previous employer, the EPA was supposed to release the docAmerican Chemistry Council,” Richard uments by June 19, but the agency has Denison, a lead senior scientist at the Enviextended that date until Sept. 19 to get ronmental Defense Fund, says. more information from the public. The Echoing Denison’s concerns is the top documents are important because they Democrat on the Energy & Commerce will outline the strategy that EPA will use Committee in the U.S. House to assess the risks of the 10 of Representatives, Rep. chemicals. The agency’s Frank Pallone Jr. (N.J.). In a evaluation of these chemiThe first 10 chemicals June 21 letter to EPA Admincals will set the stage for EPA EPA selected for istrator Scott Pruitt, Pallone to assess the risks of other evaluation under the says Beck’s role in finalizing high-priority chemicals that revised TSCA the rules “threaten[s] the are in the U.S. marketplace. success of the TSCA reform Under the amended ▸ Asbestos legislation passed last year.” TSCA, EPA must begin evalu▸ 1,4-Dioxane Meanwhile, EPA has ating one new chemical each ▸ 1-Bromopropane delayed the release of docutime it completes an assess▸ Carbon tetrachloride ments related to the first 10 ment. By the end of 2019, the chemicals that the agency will ▸ Methylene chloride agency is required to have a ▸ N-methylpyrrolidone evaluate under the amended minimum of 20 evaluations ▸ Tetrachloroethylene, TSCA. The revised law reongoing at any given time. If quires the agency to complete also known as EPA finds an unacceptable its evaluation of the 10 chemperchloroethylene risk for any of the chemicals, ▸ Trichloroethylene icals by 2019. EPA is in the the agency must take regula▸ A cluster of cyclic “problem formulation stage” tory action to reduce that risk of these evaluations and is aliphatic bromide flame within two years of completasking the public to weigh in retardants ing the evaluation.—BRITT ▸ Pigment Violet 29 on this step. ERICKSON
Vitals
CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK
ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS
European Union further restricts four phthalates The European Union is a step closer to prohibiting the use of four phthalates in consumer products. The Socio-Economic Analysis Committee of the European Chemicals Agency voted on June 20 in favor of restricting most uses of the chemicals under the EU’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) law. The four phthalates are butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP). The EU banned the use of the substances, which have been linked to reproductive effects, in 2015 under REACH. But companies can seek—and have obtained—continued-use authorizations if there are no safer alternatives. The proposed restrictions would eliminate continued-use authorizations for consumer products that contain the phthalates at levels greater than 0.1% by weight. The four phthalates are used to soften plastics found in a wide range of consumer products, including flooring, coated
O
O O O
O O
O Butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP)
O Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP)
O
O O O
O O
O Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)
O Diisobutyl phthalate(DIBP)
fabrics and paper, recreational gear, mattresses, footwear, office supplies, wires, and cables. Measuring equipment for laboratory use would be exempt from the restrictions. The European Commission still needs to formally adopt the restrictions, which would become effective three years after they are finalized.—BRITT ERICKSON JUNE 26, 2017 | CEN.ACS.ORG | C&EN
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