EPA Proposes Adding Cadmium Compounds in Consumer Items to TSCA Priority Testing List, Etc.
The Environmental Protection Agency said it's proposing adding the category of cadmium compounds, including any chemical that contains cadmium as part of that chemical's structure, 6 non-phthalate plasticizers, 25 phosphate ester flame retardants, two other flame retardants, nine chemicals to which children living near hazardous waste sites may be exposed, and a category of 69 diisocyanates and related compounds (including 14 Action Plan chemicals and 55 related compounds) to the Toxic Substances Control Act Priority Testing List.
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The TSCA Interagency Testing Committee's April 5 report to the EPA Administrator said the ITC is also removing 103 cadmium compounds and 14 High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program orphan chemicals from the Priority Testing List. The changes for cadmium compounds will provide a more comprehensive approach to assessing cadmium compounds' safety, said EPA.
The EPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission asked that the ITC add the category cadmium compounds to the Priority Testing List to obtain health and safety studies on cadmium compounds that are present in any consumer product. The cadmium compounds category includes any chemical that contains cadmium as part of that chemical's structure. They said they are concerned with the content of cadmium and cadmium compounds in certain children's toys, jewelry, and other consumer products due to known toxicity and health concerns from exposure to cadmium and cadmium compounds.
Following receipt of the ITC's report (and the revised Priority Testing List) by the EPA Administrator, EPA may add the chemicals from the revised Priority Testing List to the TSCA section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information Reporting (PAIR) rule and/or the TSCA section 8(d) Health and Safety Data Reporting (HaSDR) rule. The PAIR rule requires manufacturers (including importers) of chemicals added to the Priority Testing List to submit to EPA certain production and exposure information. The HaSDR rule requires certain past, current, and proposed manufacturers, importers, and (if specified by EPA) processors of listed chemicals to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health and safety studies on the listed chemicals that they manufacture, import, or (if specified by EPA) process.
The supporting information for cadmium and cadmium compounds is described in the 68th ITC Report (here).
Comments are due by June 22, identified by docket ID number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2011-1020, to http://www.regulations.gov, or by mail to Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001. Further information: John D. Walker, 202-564-7527 or walker.johnd@epa.gov.