EPA Seeks Feedback on Risk Reviews for Five Chemicals, Including Flame Retardant TBBPA
Safety
EPA is seeking comments on documents tied to five chemicals, including TBBPA, which the agency said poses unreasonable inhalation risk to workers. A TSCA science panel will review the drafts in early August.
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Key Facts
- EPA released a draft risk evaluation on June 16 for 4,4′-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (TBBPA).
- The agency said TBBPA poses unreasonable risk to workers through chronic inhalation exposure.
- EPA described TBBPA as a white, crystalline solid used in flame retardants for plastic material and resin manufacturing and in electrical equipment.
- EPA published technical support documents on June 12 for four other substances: ethylene dibromide, trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane, and 1,2-dichloropropane.
- EPA’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals is scheduled to meet virtually Aug. 3-7 to review the documents before final risk evaluations are published.
What Happened
The Environmental Protection Agency is asking for feedback on documents tied to five chemicals that can directly affect the air workers breathe, according to the report. The agency’s review includes a flame retardant it said presents unreasonable risk.
On June 16, EPA released a draft risk evaluation for 4,4′-(1-Methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol], also known as TBBPA. EPA said the white, crystalline solid poses unreasonable risk to workers through inhalation exposure.
Why It Matters
For buyers, lab managers, EHS leads, and operators, the immediate issue is not just chemical identity but exposure pathway. The report said EPA is paying particular attention to workers with the heaviest exposures and wants comment on how real-world exposures should be reflected.
That matters for facilities that manufacture, formulate, repackage, or otherwise handle the listed substances, because the agency is focusing on airborne exposure and conditions of use rather than only end-product chemistry.
Key Details
EPA identified TBBPA as being used primarily as a reactant for flame retardants in plastic material and resin manufacturing, and as a flame retardant incorporated into electrical equipment. The report said EPA found unreasonable risk from chronic inhalation exposure under three conditions of use.
- Ethylene dibromide (1,2-dibromoethane): used as a fuel additive and found in exposures related to import, repackaging, fuel-related uses, laboratory work, and waste handling.
- Trans-1,2-dichloroethylene: used as a solvent in processing and in formulations for cleaning and degreasing.
- 1,1,2-Trichloroethane: used in plastic, petrochemical, and other chemical product and preparation manufacturing, adhesives and sealants, and as a laboratory chemical.
- 1,2-dichloropropane: used as an intermediate in chemical product manufacturing, as a processing aid for paper sizing agents, as a laboratory chemical, and in cleaning and furnishing care products.
EPA also published technical support documents for those four substances on June 12 as it develops draft risk evaluations.
What To Watch Next
As required under the Toxic Substances Control Act, EPA has scheduled a meeting of its Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals to review the documents before final risk evaluations are published. The committee is slated to meet virtually from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern on Aug. 3-7.
Facilities that use any of the five chemicals should track the draft evaluations and supporting documents closely, especially where worker inhalation exposure is part of normal operations.
Alliance's Take
Facilities using TBBPA or the four other listed substances should review where airborne exposure can occur in manufacturing, lab, repackaging, and waste-handling steps. That is the exposure profile EPA is flagging in this round of review.
Procurement and EHS teams may want to map current use cases against the listed conditions of use now, so they are ready to respond if the final evaluations drive controls, substitution discussions, or documentation updates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which chemical drew the strongest EPA concern in this report?
EPA’s draft risk evaluation said TBBPA poses unreasonable risk to workers through chronic inhalation exposure.
What should facilities using these chemicals pay attention to?
The report points to worker inhalation exposure, especially for people with the heaviest exposures, and to whether current real-world conditions of use are reflected accurately.
What is the next EPA milestone?
EPA’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals is scheduled to review the documents virtually Aug. 3-7 before final risk evaluations are published.