The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) proposes to designate five chemicals as High-Priority Substances for risk evaluation under the nation’s chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If USEPA finalizes these designations as proposed, the risk evaluation process will immediately move forward.
The five chemical substances USEPA is proposing to designate as High-Priority Substances are listed below with their primary uses in manufacturing and processing:
- Vinyl Chloride (CASRN 75-01-4) – plastic materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic resins, and other chemicals. Many of these materials are used for pipes and insulating materials.
- Acetaldehyde (CASRN 75-07-0) – adhesives, petrochemicals, plastic and other chemicals, as well as intermediates for products such as packaging and construction materials.
- Acrylonitrile (CASRN 107-13-1) – plastic materials, paints, petrochemicals, and other chemicals.
- Benzenamine (CASRN 62-53-3) – dyes and pigments, petrochemicals, plastics, resins, and other chemicals.
- 4,4’-methylene bis (2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) (CASRN 101-14-4) – rubbers, plastics, resins, and other chemicals.
All five chemicals were selected from the 2014 TSCA Work Plan, which is a list of chemicals identified by USEPA for further assessment based on their hazards and potential for exposure. USEPA also considered more specific criteria such as the chemicals’ bioaccumulation and environmental persistence and whether the chemical is stored near significant sources of drinking water. USEPA lists all five of the chemicals as probable human carcinogens.
USEPA will accept public comments on the proposed designations through October 23, 2024, on Regulations.gov.