Synergist - October 2010

EPA to Consider Banning Benzidine, HBCD EPA plans to address the potential health risks associated with the use of benzidine dyes, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and nonylphenol (NP)/nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs)—chemicals typically used in both consumer and industrial applications—the agency announced in an Aug. 18 press release. The chemicals identified are used in dyes, flame retardants, and industrial laundry detergents. Benzidine dyes are used by workers in the production of consumer textiles, paints, printing inks, paper, and pharmaceuticals, while HBCD is used as a flame retardant in expanded polystyrene foam in the construction and building industry. NP/NPEs are used in detergents, cleaners, agricultural and indoor pesticides, and food packaging.

Exposure to benzidine dyes can lead to a variety of health problems, including cancer. HBCD may cause reproductive, developmental and neurological effects in humans.

EPA plans to add HBCD and NP/NPE to EPA’s Chemicals of Concern list, issue new use rules for all three chemicals, and, for benzidine and HBCD, implement new reporting requirements on the EPA Toxics Release Inventory and possibly ban or limit their production or use.

Although development of the Chemicals of Concern list has long been authorized by the Toxic Substances Control Act, EPA has not previously made use of this authority.

The EPA press release is available at http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/ 9D03D83BC262FDCC85257783005359AE. For more information about EPA’s existing chemical programs, visit www.epa.gov/oppt/ existingchemicals.