EPA Selects Priority Chemicals For Assessment Under TSCA in 2013-2014

As part of its existing chemicals management program, EPA has listed 83 chemicals as a part of its Work Plan under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Seven of those chemicals were chosen for further risk assessment in 2012, and EPA has identified 18 more of the chemicals for assessment in 2013 and 2014. According to EPA, the chemicals were chosen for a variety of reasons, including specific hazards such as potential carcinogenicity; potential to be persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic; chemicals found in biomonitoring; or chemicals reported in consumer products.

The chemicals include five chlorinated hydrocarbons, three flame retardants, and four fragrance chemicals. In order to conduct risk assessments on the 18 chemicals, EPA will follow the procedures listed in the TSCA Work Plan Chemicals Methods Document and will use information available from a variety of sources. The Agency will still accept additional relevant information on the chemicals, such as unpublished studies not already available through the existing literature and information on uses and potential exposures. All information should be submitted to EPA on or before August 31.

The 2013 - 2014 Work Plan Chemicals are as follows:

• 1-Bromopropane
• Five chlorinated hydrocarbons: 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,2-Dichloropropane trans-1-2-Dichloroethylene,1,1,2-Trichloroethane
• 4-tert-Octylphenol
• Three flame retardants: Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH), 2-Ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB), Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP)
• Four fragrance chemicals: Ethanone, 1-(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro- 2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-4-sec-Butyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol, Ethanone, 1-(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro- 2,3,5,5-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-, Ethanone, 1-(1,2,3,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro- 2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-, Ethanone, 1-(1,2,3,4,6,7,8,8a-octahydro- 2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-
• 4-sec-Butyl-2,6-di-tert-butylphenol
• 2,4,6-Tri-tert-butylphenol
• P,p'-Oxybis(benzenesulfonyl hydrazide)
• Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4)

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