Webinar on Prioritizing Five Chemicals for Risk Evaluation Under TSCA
Join the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on February 20, 2024, at 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. EST for a webinar on the five chemicals currently undergoing prioritization under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The webinar is open to all, but EPA is particularly interested in learning more about how these chemicals are used and how people could potentially be exposed at different points in a chemical’s lifecycle. EPA is also interested in hearing from members of communities who may be impacted by chemical exposures.
In December 2023, EPA announced that it was beginning the process to prioritize five chemicals for risk evaluation under TSCA.
Acetaldehyde is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of adhesives, petrochemicals, and other chemicals, as well as intermediates for products like packaging and construction materials. Exposure to acetaldehyde may result in a range of health effects such as irritation of the respiratory system. It is a probable human carcinogen.
Acrylonitrile is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of plastic materials, paints, petrochemicals and other chemicals. Exposure to acrylonitrile may result in a range of health effects such as irritation of the respiratory system. It is a probable human carcinogen.
Benzenamine is used in the manufacturing and processing of dyes and pigments, petrochemicals, plastics, resins and other chemicals. Exposure to benzenamine may result in a range of health effects such as adverse effects on the blood, fetal development, and reproduction. Benzenamine is a probable human carcinogen.
MBOCA is used in the manufacturing and processing of rubbers, plastics, resins and other chemicals. It is a probable human carcinogen. There is also extensive data that demonstrate exposure to MBOCA may damage genetic material in cells, potentially leading to other adverse health effects, particularly when exposure occurs to infants and children.
Vinyl chloride is primarily used in the manufacturing and processing of plastic materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC), plastic resins, and other chemicals, many of these materials are used for pipes, insulating materials, and consumer goods. This chemical was also involved in the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Exposure to vinyl chloride may result in a range of health effects such as liver toxicity. It is also a known human carcinogen. In the 1970s, the White House Council on Environmental Quality and EPA officials raised serious concerns about the health impacts of vinyl chloride. These concerns were the impetus for Congress to write a law to ensure chemicals were made and used safely, which led to passage of the “original” TSCA in 1976.
If EPA designates these five chemicals as High-Priority Substances at the end of the 9- to 12-month long time frame required by law, the Agency will begin risk evaluations for these chemicals. During the prioritization process, EPA is gathering data on the five chemicals. The more detailed information EPA receives about the uses of these chemicals, potential routes of exposure, and monitoring data, the better the Agency would be able to inform any downstream analyses that could be part of a risk evaluation.
This webinar will provide an overview of the prioritization process. There will also be an opportunity for participants to share comments. If you would like to provide a comment during the webinar, please email Sarah Soliman (Soliman.sarah@epa.gov) no later than February 16, 2024.
EPA would like to hear from interested stakeholders, including industry, state, local and tribal governments, and people living in communities that have been impacted by these five chemicals. Information about how people may have been exposed to these chemicals and what health impacts they may have experienced can help inform EPA’s review of these chemicals. Monitoring data that shows the concentration of these chemicals in consumer products, in the workplace, or in the air, water or land would be particularly useful for identifying potential exposure.
EPA also encourages stakeholders to provide their comments in the appropriate dockets. EPA is accepting public comments on these chemicals until March 18, 2024, at EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0601 at www.regulations.gov, or at the chemical-specific dockets for acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzenamine, MBOCA, and vinyl chloride.
Captioning will be provided for this event. If you require special accommodations, including live translation into a language other than English, please contact Sarah Soliman at 202-748-0251 or Soliman.Sarah@epa.gov by February 16. Note: EPA will use your registration information solely for this event. We will not share your information with any third party.
Participants can register as listeners or to make prepared remarks. If you would like to provide a comment during the webinar, please email Sarah Soliman at soliman.sarah@epa.gov before February 16.
Details on how to access the webinar and slides will be sent to participants after registering via Zoom. Please ensure that emails from Zoom will not be blocked by your spam filter. EPA will provide copies of the presentation material on our website following the webinar.
|
For Translations: |