TSCA Chemical Risk Evaluation Policy Changes Announced By EPA
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently filed a motion in the U.S. Court of Appeals indicating that risk management rulemaking for 1,4-dioxane could not be initiated until a review of the final risk evaluation is closer to being concluded. This action is part of the Agency's broader efforts to revise its overall approach to the evaluation of certain key chemicals
1,4-Dioxane and New Policy Changes
On January 14, 2021, the EPA completed the process of risk evaluation for the first group of 10 chemical substances requiring risk evaluation under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act). Among these was the final risk evaluation for 1,4-dioxane.
| Systematic IUPAC Name | 1,4-Dioxacyclohexane |
|---|---|
| Chemical Formula | C4H8O2 |
| CAS Registry Number | 123-91-1 |
| Description | A clear, colorless, organic volatile liquid, 1,4-dioxane is frequently used as a solvent in numerous applications. |
In June of this year, several policy changes related to risk evaluations issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) were announced by the EPA. Among other things, the Agency plans to review and update the risk evaluation for 1,4-dioxane to determine whether previously excluded information should be added.
The previously released 1,4-dioxane final risk evaluation looked at 24 conditions of use:
- No unreasonable risks to the general population were found for evaluated use conditions
- No unreasonable risks to the environment were found for evaluated use conditions
- Unreasonable risks to workers (and occupational non-users) were found for 13 of 24 use conditions
The EPA aims to look at several factors, including whether evaluation of ambient air exposure, exposure to drinking water, and 1,4-dioxane-producing use conditions (previously excluded from the final risk evaluation) should now be included. Feedback from the public will be permitted once revisions to the evaluation are made, and prior to it being issued as final.
More in-depth information on the risk evaluation for 1,4-dioxane may be found on the Agency's website.
1,4-Dioxane and New Policy Changes
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