Published 06th January, 2021
EPA has ruled on five persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemical additives.
Exposure to these harmful chemicals known as PBT will be reduced by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) ruling.
As OATS previously reported, the ban was first proposed in 2019. The final rules released in December 2020 limit or prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and/or distribution in commerce for the following:
- Decabromodiphenyl ether (DecaBDE):
- Phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1))
- 2,4,6-tris(tert-butyl) phenol (2,4,6-TTBP)
- Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD)
- Pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP)
The EPA has also announced the receipt of a manufacturer-requested risk evaluation (MRRE) for two other PBT chemicals within the octahydro-tetramethyl-naphthalenyl-ethanone (OTNE) chemical category. This will shortly be open for a public comment period .