The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed flame retardants as a key focus of its 2013 chemical risk assessments. The EPA has announced the following seven substances that will undergo comprehensive evaluation:
l 1.2-ethylhexyl ester 2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB) 4,5-四溴苯甲酸;
l 1,2-ethylhexyl 3,4,5,6-tetrabromo-benzenedicarboxylate, or (2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6 tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) 四丁基氢氧化鏻
l tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) 磷酸三氯乙酯
l hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and related congeners六溴環十二烷及其相關物質
l octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) 八甲基環四矽氧烷
l 1-bromopropane溴代丙烷
l 1,4-dioxane二氧六環
By classifying flame retardants according to their similar properties (TBB, TBPH, TCEP, HBCD), the EPA aims to expand its risk assessment scope to include 20 other flame retardants for which biological and environmental behavior data are currently lacking. The EPA has also identified 50 substances that are unlikely to pose a risk to human health and could be used to replace harmful chemical flame retardants.
During the assessment process, the EPA will solicit relevant data from the public and request stakeholders to provide relevant information by May 30, such as unpublished research and applications and potential risks.
Although TBBPA is not yet included in this year's assessment plan, the EPA has indicated that there is currently sufficient data on this type of substance for risk assessment, and it will become a future assessment target if it is found to be highly hazardous.
In addition to risk assessments, the EPA will also conduct environmental hazard investigations on eight other flame retardants this year.
Sources: Chemical Watch (March 27, 2013) (Compiled by PIDC)
