EPA Evaluates 5 Harmful Chemicals

On July 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to add five chemicals as high-priority substances for risk evaluation under the nation’s chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If the EPA finalizes these designations as proposed, the agency will immediately move forward with the risk evaluation process.

The five chemical substances EPA is proposing to designate as high-priority substances are:

• Vinyl Chloride—This human carcinogen is used primarily in the manufacturing and processing of plastic materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic resins, and other chemicals. This chemical was also involved in the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, last year.
• Acetaldehyde—The probable human carcinogen is used primarily in the manufacturing and processing of adhesives, petrochemicals, plastic, and other chemicals, as well as intermediates for products such as packaging and construction materials.
• Acrylonitrile—This probable human carcinogen is used primarily in the manufacturing and processing of plastic materials, paints, petrochemicals, and other chemicals.
• Benzenamine—The probable human carcinogen is used in the manufacturing and processing of dyes and pigments, petrochemicals, plastics, resins, and other chemicals.
• 4,4’-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA)—This probable human carcinogen is used in the manufacturing and processing of rubbers, plastics, resins, and other chemicals.

“The Biden-Harris Administration continues to make significant progress in protecting workers and communities from exposure to harmful chemicals as we implement the 2016 TSCA amendments that strengthened EPA’s authority on chemical safety,” said Michal Freedhoff, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention assistant administrator. “Studying the safety of these harmful chemicals—all five of which have been linked to cancer and are used to make plastic—would help lead to critical public health and environmental protections in communities across the country and would ensure that the public has access to more data on these chemicals sooner.”

All five chemicals were selected from the 2014 TSCA Work Plan, which is a list of chemicals identified by EPA for further assessment based on their hazards and potential for exposure. In proposing these five chemical substances as high-priority substances for risk evaluation, EPA considered the chemicals’ use and production volume, impacts to exposed or susceptible subpopulations—including children and workers—and the chemicals’ potential hazards and exposures.

Prioritization is the first step under EPA’s authority to regulate existing chemicals currently on the market and in use. EPA began the process of prioritizing these five chemicals in December 2023 and also announced that it expects to initiate prioritization on five chemicals every year, which will create a sustainable and effective pace for risk evaluations.

EPA will accept public comments on the proposed designations for 90 days. For more information, click here.