08.19.10
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released action plans to address what it calls the “potential health risks” of nonylphenol (NP)/nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) used in industrial laundry detergents.
The plans identify a range of actions the agency is considering under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The range of actions includes adding NP/NPE to EPA’s new Chemicals of Concern list and issuing significant new use rules for the chemicals.
“The action plans announced today are examples of EPA's renewed dedication to improve chemical safety to protect the health of the American people and the environment.” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, in a statement released by EPA late Wednesday. “These action plans lay out concrete steps EPA intends to take to address the risks associated with chemicals commonly used in this country.”
Other chemicals identified by EPA yesterday include benzidine dyes and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). Benzidine dyes are used in the production of consumer textiles, paints, printing inks, paper, and pharmaceuticals. HBCD is used as a flame retardant in expanded polystyrene foam in the building and construction industry, as well as in some consumer products.
In addition to EPA’s efforts, the Textile Rental Services Association, which represents 98% of the industrial laundry facilities in the U.S., has committed to voluntarily phase out the use of NPEs in industrial liquid detergents by Dec. 31, 2013 and industrial powder detergents by the end of 2014.
“While EPA intends to address the potential risks associated with these chemicals,” Owens stated, “we are pleased that the industrial laundry industry has decided to not wait for regulatory action to be completed by the agency and is voluntarily taking steps now to phase out the use of NPEs.”
EPA first announced that it planned to develop the Chemicals of Concern list last December, which indicates that the chemicals may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health and the environment. This previously unused TSCA authority signals the agency’s commitment to fully use the tools currently available, while supporting legislative reform of TSCA.
You can download a PDF of EPA’s complete nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) Action Plan at the EPA website.