EPA Seeking Public Comment on Cleaning Product Ingredient

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requests public input on a supplemental analysis to the draft risk evaluation for 1,4-dioxane. After releasing the draft risk evaluation in June 2019, in response to public comments and feedback from peer reviewers, EPA conducted a supplemental analysis to the draft risk evaluation. This supplemental analysis includes eight consumer uses, such as surface cleaners and laundry/dishwashing detergents, where 1,4-dioxane is present as a byproduct. The supplemental analysis also assesses exposure to the general population from 1,4-dioxane in surface water.

This supplemental analysis is a critical part of the regulatory process that EPA is following in determining how the agency will regulate 1,4-dioxane in end-use products such as cleaners   under the revamped Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). EPA has broad authority under TSCA ranging from banning the chemical outright to imposing use restrictions on the end-use product. This EPA regulatory action under TSCA is part of the growing body of regulation that regulates and, in some cases, bans 1,4-dioxane.

In the supplemental analysis to the draft risk evaluation, EPA preliminarily found “no unreasonable risk to consumers from the eight conditions of use assessed.” The agency also preliminarily found “no unreasonable risks under any of the conditions of use to the general population from exposure to 1,4-dioxane.”

Because these additional conditions of use and exposure pathways were not included in the draft risk evaluation, the agency is providing an opportunity for the public to give input on the supplemental analysis and risk determinations before the risk evaluation is finalized. EPA will accept public comments on the supplemental analysis to the draft risk evaluation for 20 days.

It is important for the cleaning industry to weigh in and comment directly to EPA on this supplemental analysis to the draft risk evaluation so that the agency has the benefit of full and robust information in making its regulatory determinations. Accordingly, we encourage ISSA members to comment directly to EPA and also send their comments to ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft at [email protected] by December 4, 2020, for our consideration in possibly submitting comments to EPA.