The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it is beginning the 12-month process to prioritize five additional chemicals for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If the EPA designates these chemicals as High Priority Substances, it will begin risk evaluations for them. The five chemicals are:
- Acetaldehyde (CASRN 75-07-0),
- Acrylonitrile (CASRN 107-13-1),
- Benzenamine (CASRN 62-53-3),
- 4,4’-Methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) (MBOCA) (CASRN 101-14-4), and
- Vinyl Chloride (CASRN 75-01-4).
Given the widespread use of these chemicals in the manufacture of adhesives, plastics, rubbers, dyes, and other products, this action could impact a large variety of industries. It is important for the EPA to have current hazard and exposure data to determine if these candidate chemicals pose an unreasonable risk to workers, the public, and the environment. These evaluations are likely to include vulnerable communities as susceptible subpopulations. The EPA’s comment period for interested persons to submit relevant information on these chemicals closes March 18, 2024 (Federal Register: Initiation of Prioritization Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); Request for Comment).