EPA Issues Final Test Rule for 19 Chemicals - With or Without TSCA Reform, EPA Moves Forward

In their continuing attempts to collect data on "orphan" chemicals, that is, those High Production Volume (HPV) chemicals for which no company volunteered to provide data under the HPV Challenge program, EPA has issued a final TSCA Section 4 Test Rule listing 19 specific chemicals and the tests they are requiring. The goal is to obtain the data EPA needs to assure "the safety of chemicals."  HPV chemicals are those produced in the US in quantities of 1 million pounds per year or more.

According to Assistant Administrator Steve Owens:

“This chemical data reporting will provide EPA with critical information to better evaluate any potential risks from these chemicals that are being produced in large quantities in this country. Having this information is essential to improve chemical safety and protect the health of the American people and the environment.”

Testing includes everything from physical/chemical properties to environmental fate to ecotoxicity to mammalian toxicity, which each chemical having a specific set of data being required within a specified period of time.

The 19 chemicals in this particular test rule are:

1. Acetaldehyde (CAS 75–07–0)
2. 1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-bis[(nitrooxy)methyl]-, dinitrate (ester) (78–11–5)
3. 9,10-Anthracenedione (84–65–1)
4. 1H,3H-Benzo[1,2-c:4,5-c']difuran-1,3,5,7-tetrone (89–32–7)
5. 2,4-Hexadienoic acid, (E,E)- (110–44–1)
6. Phenol, 4,4'-methylenebis[2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)- (118–82–1)
7. Methanone, diphenyl- (119–61–9)
8. Ethanedioic acid (144–62–7)
9. Methanesulfinic acid, hydroxy-, monosodium salt (149–44–0)
10. Phosphorochloridothioic acid, O,O-diethyl ester (2524–04–1)
11. 1,3,5-Triazine-1,3,5(2H,4H,6H)-triethanol (4719–04–4)
12. D-erythro-hex-2-enonic acid, gamma.-lactone, monosodium salt (6381–77–7)
13. D-gluco-heptonic acid, monosodium salt, (2.xi.)-   (31138–65–5)
14. C.I. Leuco Sulphur Black 1 (66241–11–0)
15. Castor oil, sulfated, sodium salt (68187–76–8)
16. Castor oil, oxidized (68187–84–8)
17. Benzenediamine, ar,ar-diethyl-ar-methyl- (68479–98–1)
18. Alkenes, C12-24 , chloro (68527–02–6)
19. Hydrocarbons, C>4 (68647–60–9)