The EPA issues the following test order in accordance with the national testing strategy for PFAS used in plastics and chemicals

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued the following Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) testing order requiring testing of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in accordance with the EPA’s National PFAS Testing Strategy. Today’s action directs companies to conduct and submit tests for trifluoro(trifluoromethyl)oxirane (HFPO), a perfluoroalkyl substance used in the plastics industry. This is the second test order under the strategy and the latest action taken under the EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap to Combat Chemical Pollution Permanently Nationwide.

The information the EPA receives under this order will not only improve the Agency’s understanding of the impact of HFPO on human health, but also the impact of dozens of PFASs that are structurally similar to HFPOs and fall into the same category of PFAS testing strategy, improving overall data. agencies. on PFAS.

“PFAS can pose a significant risk to communities, especially those overwhelmed by pollution, but toxicity data for many of these chemicals is limited or non-existent. That’s why we’re working fast to get better and more reliable data on PFAS to better understand and ultimately mitigate potential risks.” Michal Friedhoff, assistant administrator of the Office for Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said.. “Communities deserve transparency from companies that use or manufacture these substances, and we will continue to use our data collection tools to gather information about the potential environmental and health impacts of PFAS.”

HFPO (CASRN 428-59-1) is used in the plastics and organic chemicals industry. According to the TSCA Chemical Data Reporting regulations, over 1,000,000 pounds of HFPO are produced annually.

After careful review of existing hazard and exposure data, the EPA has concluded that HFPO may present an unreasonable risk of harm to health or the environment. Potential hazards from exposure to this chemical may include neurotoxicity, reproductive effects, and cancer. The EPA also found that there is not enough information to determine the human health effects of inhaling HFPO (which is a gas at room temperature). This test order will satisfy this data need.

Chemours Company FC LLC, DuPont De Nemours Inc., EI du Pont de Nemours and Company and 3M are recipients of this test order. Prior to issuing the trial order, EPA held discussions with recipient companies to encourage them to voluntarily submit existing HFPO data to EPA. Based on information in existing studies provided by collaborating companies, the EPA has determined that some of the data is no longer needed and thus removed the relevant testing requirements from the issued order. EPA has made the data voluntarily provided by these companies publicly available on the EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0910 registry at www.regulations.gov.

The EPA will continue to liaise with manufacturers and processors before issuing an order to encourage voluntary submission of data that could refine its PFAS classification included in the testing strategy, expedite data availability to the Agency and the public, or eliminate the need for testing.

Companies that are subject to a testing order may either conduct testing as described in the order, including testing for physicochemical properties and health effects after inhalation, or provide EPA with existing information that they believe EPA did not identify during the search . The EPA encourages companies to conduct trials collaboratively to avoid unnecessary duplication of trials, and will consider possible combinations of trials that cover all required endpoints to reduce the amount of time, animals and costs required.

The order uses a tiered testing process as required by TSCA. The results of all first level tests must be submitted to the EPA within 415 days of the effective date of the order, and they will form the basis for deciding which additional tests are needed. The Order and any data submitted in response to this Order will be publicly available on the EPA website and on the appropriate listing at www.regulations.gov subject to privacy considerations in accordance with Section 14 of TSCA.

National PFAS Testing Strategy

In the National Testing Strategy, EPA has categorized PFAS into smaller categories based on similarities in structure, physicochemical properties, and existing toxicity data. EPA is issuing orders to test PFAS in certain categories for which no toxicity data is available to inform EPA of its understanding of potential human health effects. First test order released in June 2022. was for the 6:2 fluorotelomeric sulfonamide betaine, PFAS, used in commercial firefighting foam. As EPA continues to fine-tune its strategy, improve its population and classification of PFAS, and take into account stakeholder feedback, the Agency also plans to increase the weight it places on potential impact in determining which specific PFAS require testing.

Section 4 Test Orders

The development of Section 4 Test Orders is a complex and resource-intensive process involving many scientific and regulatory considerations, as explained in this overview of the steps involved in issuing a Section 4 TSCA Order. Given the complexity of the testing requirements, a wide range of agency experts worked to define the testing methodology and needs, as well as other details of drafting and issuing the order, such as assessing the economic burden of the order.

In addition, one order often covers several companies. The EPA must identify these companies and their associated points of contact. To increase transparency in the process, EPA is also working to resolve claims for sensitive business information that could prevent EPA from publicly associating a company with a chemical prior to issuing test orders.

Review the test order issued today and other section 4 test orders.

Learn more about the National PFAS Testing Strategy.

Content Source

News Press Ohio – Latest News:
Columbus Local News || Cleveland Local News || Ohio State News || National News || Money and Economy News || Entertainment News || Tech News || Environment News

Related Articles

Back to top button