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  2. Assessing and Managing Chemicals under TSCA

Prioritization Actions Under TSCA

As required under section 6(b) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA must conduct a prioritization process to determine if chemical substances are a high- or low-priority for risk evaluation. A high-priority substance may present unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment because of a potential hazard and a potential route of exposure, and a low-priority substance is one for which a risk evaluation is not warranted at the time. During prioritization, as specified under TSCA section 6(b)(1)(A), EPA considers hazard and exposure potential of a chemical substance, its persistence and bioaccumulation, potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations, storage near significant sources of drinking water, the conditions of use or significant changes in the conditions of use of the chemical substance, and the production volume or significant changes in production volume of the chemical substance manufactured or processed. At the end of the prioritization process, if a chemical is designated as a High-Priority Substance, EPA will initiate a risk evaluation for that chemical substance. EPA will then publish a draft scope of the risk evaluation followed by a 45-day public comment period. EPA will then publish a final scope document within 6 months of initiating the risk evaluation. EPA provides the status for all ongoing and completed risk evaluations under TSCA.

Chemicals Undergoing Prioritization

This table provides a current list of the chemicals undergoing the process for prioritization for risk evaluation under TSCA, as well as proposed and final designation status. See the Prioritization of Existing Chemicals for Risk Evaluation under TSCA page for an overview of the prioritization process. Thus far, Chemical substances being prioritized for risk evaluation 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. 

Chemical Name 

CASRN number 

Date Initiated 

Docket ID Number 

Prioritization Status 

Priority Designation  

4-tert-Octylphenol (4-(1,1,3,3-Tetramethylbutyl)-phenol)

140-66-9

12/2024 

EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0496

Initiated

Pending proposed designation 

Benzene

71-43-2

12/2024 

EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0475

Initiated

Pending proposed designation 

Ethylbenzene

100-41-4

12/2024 

EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0487

Initiated

Pending proposed designation 

Napthalene

91-20-3 

12/2024 

EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0454

Initiated

Pending proposed designation 

Styrene 

100-42-5

12/2024 

EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0461

Initiated 

Pending proposed designation 

Previous Prioritization Actions Under TSCA

2023-2024 Chemicals  Receiving Final Designations

On December 18, 2024, EPA finalized the designations of these chemical substances as High-Priority Substances for risk evaluation.

  • Acetaldehyde (CASRN 75-07-0);
  • Acrylonitrile (CASRN 107-13-1);
  • Benzenamine (CASRN 62-53-3);
  • Vinyl Chloride (CASRN 75-01-4), and;
  • 4,4’-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) (CASRN 101-14-4). 

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 the combination of hazard, exposure (including uses), and persistence and bioaccumulation characteristics.

2019-2020 Chemicals Receiving Final Designations

On March 20, 2019, EPA initiated the prioritization process by issuing a list of 40 chemical substances and began the effort to designate 20 High-Priority Substances for subsequent risk evaluation and to designate 20 Low-Priority Substances, meaning that risk evaluation is not warranted at this time. On December 20, 2019, EPA finalized the designation of the 20 high-priority chemicals. On February 20, 2020, EPA finalized the designation of the 20 low-priority chemicals.

  • Learn more about the 20 high-priority chemical substances.
  • Learn more about the 20 low-priority chemical substances.

     

Assessing and Managing Chemicals under TSCA

  • How EPA Evaluates the Safety of Existing Chemicals
  • Prioritizing Existing Chemicals for Risk Evaluation
  • Risk Evaluations for Existing Chemicals under TSCA
  • Risk Management for Existing Chemicals under TSCA
Assessing and Managing Chemicals under TSCA Contact Us
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Last updated on May 30, 2025
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