Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
web
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • International Elastomer Show
    • Automotive
    • Tire
    • Non-Tire
    • Suppliers
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • ITEC
    • Opinion
    • Technical Notebooks
    • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      ChemSpec enjoying busy 2019 with new agreements, division
      view gallery
      18 photos
      Rubber Division honors leaders, students at Business and Awards Meeting
      view gallery
      9 photos
      Rubber Division wraps up 2019 International Elastomer Conference
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      How General Motors puts batteries through their paces
      As e-commerce grows, companies seek best ways to get products to customers
      ContiTech acquires CRP's belt kits program
    • Yokohama releases new E-3 radial tires for scrapers
      Goodyear to roll out online tire retail program in Europe
      Cooper recalls U.K.-made Avon motorcycle tires
      Continental app helps farmers calculate ag tire pressure, load
    • Wacky World of Rubber: Hunting for rubber ducks on cruise ships
      Trelleborg completes Tritec Seal acquisition
      John Grasmeyer focuses on education for NIBA
      Avon marks 2019 as 'transformational' year
    • Hexpol names Ken Bloom president for North America
      LSR technology shines at K 2019
      TPC plant explosion's impact on butadiene market still being assessed
      Monolith appoints chief technology officer
    • Hexpol names Ken Bloom president for North America
      Monolith appoints chief technology officer
      Delta-Energy Group selects new CEO
      John Grasmeyer focuses on education for NIBA
    • As tool makers press to bring back tariffs, other manufacturers push back
      AMBA files formal request to bring back tariffs on Chinese molds
      Auto parts makers pay $23 million to settle price fixing case
      USTMA aims to raise scrap tire recovery rate
    • Goodyear finds traction with soybean oil
      Cassioli expands with sales office in Alabama
      Rodolfo Comerio looks forward as it celebrates past
      Tire Industry Project launches platform for sustainable natural rubber
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      Column: Lessons from Best Places to Work
      Editorial: Cooper Standard a sign of changing automotive times
      Editorial: Hose industry makes big strides in safety focus
    • SSBR, bio-sourced plasticizer for conveyor belt use
      EPDM solution for automotive dense weatherstrip
      High heat resistant EPDMs for auto hose uses
      Rubber standards in today’s world economy
    • Sponsor Content
      Rubber in Transportation and Tire
      Sponsor Content
      Rubber in Wire and Cable
      Sponsor Content
      Process Control Systems Ensure Consistency and Lot Traceability While Protecting Proprietary Formulations
      Sponsor Content
      Reasons for Using Performance Additives
  • Blogs
    • Products
    • Wacky World of Rubber
    • LSR technology shines at K 2019
      New Products: Master Bond rolls out thermally conductive epoxy sealant
      New Products: Lanxess introduces vulcanization accelerator
      Covestro's CO2 technology earns Germany's President's prize
    • Wacky World of Rubber: Hunting for rubber ducks on cruise ships
      Wacky World of Rubber: Floating ideas for the future of mobility
      Wacky World of Rubber: Goodyear, rubber industry make parade part of Thanksgiving traditions
      Wacky World of Rubber: How to make your own Halloween mask
  • Newsletters
    • Rubber in Automotive
    • Silicone News
    • Latex News
    • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Column: EV hype or reality? Follow the money
      How General Motors puts batteries through their paces
      As e-commerce grows, companies seek best ways to get products to customers
      ContiTech acquires CRP's belt kits program
    • LSR technology shines at K 2019
      Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      Column: Lessons from Best Places to Work
      New Products: LSR 3D printing technology spotlighted at K Show
    • Natural rubber producers 'extremely concerned' over disease outbreak
      Starting young: Rubber Division targets high schools to fill talent gap
      Kent Elastomer promotes two
      Corrie MacColl details landmark collaboration in Cameroon
  • Multimedia
    • Videos
    • Photo Galleries
  • Directory
  • Resources
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data Store
    • Digital Issue
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • RPN Conferences
    • RPN Live
    • Events Calendar
    • Submit an Event
    • Webinars
    • Past Events
  • Advertise
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
May 23, 2014 02:00 AM

ERA takes issue with proposed EPA guidelines

Chris Sweeney
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print

    BETHESDA, Md.—Sometimes two words make all the difference.

    The EPDM Roofing Association submitted a recommendation to the Environmental Protection Agency that it bases proposed environmental performance guidelines on “assessed risk” rather than the concept of “intrinsic hazard,” the association said.

    The ERA said assessed risk would require data to show that the chemical is dangerous based on the way it is to be used and in the form that it is in, not just the theoretical danger that intrinsic hazard implies, the association said.

    The ERA's biggest concern is that a range of widely used building products could be excluded from the market if the proposed guidelines are implemented as written.

    The ERA listed a number of building envelope products that could be affected by the guidelines as written, the alleged hazardous materials they may contain and the reference list (in parentheses) from which the alleged hazard is identified:

    • Thermoplastic roofing membranes: Titanium dioxide (California Prop 65);
    • Rubber roofing membranes: Carbon black (California Prop 65);
    • Asphaltic roofing and waterproofing products: Bitumen (California Prop 65);

    • Reflective roof coatings: Titanium dioxide (California Prop 65);

    • Fiber insulation: Wood dust (California Prop 65); and
    • Foam insulation: Halogenated fire retardants (San Antonio Protocol).
    Risk assessment

    Jim Hoff, vice president at the Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing, said the identification of hazard typically should include a risk assessment by an authoritative source to identify the hazard. That source can range from the EPA's toxic substance program to the International Association of Research on Cancer or a number of other nationally and globally recognized research or regulatory organizations.

    Hoff said many organizations that developed hazard standards have utilized a number of lists that are not held to the highest benchmark of hazard identification, and then derivative lists are produced off of these lists without checking what benchmark initially was used to label the material hazardous.

    “What's happened is that these very good intentions kind of snowballed,” said Ellen Thorp, associate executive director of the ERA. “The next time an architecture firm goes to update their list, they're not going back to look why certain chemicals are on certain lists; they're just taking the newest version of the list and assuming that the chemicals on that list have been fully vetted.”

    One challenge is California's Proposition 65, which Hoff said initially was designed as a workplace hazard identification standard but is now being applied to products and materials.

    A number of products, materials and ingredients on Proposition 65 should be considered a hazard in a work environment if workers are directly exposed to the materials, Hoff said. The problem is that standard is being applied elsewhere. Using carbon black as an example, the chemical can be hazardous if it accumulates in the air, but not when it's completely encapsulated in tires and rubber.

    Hoff estimated there were more than 600 materials that Proposition 65 considered hazardous and that most buildings in California have a Prop 65 hazard warning.

    “You certainly can raise alarm about materials and ingredients that have no level of actual risk to the people, and you desensitize the public to any real evaluation or understanding of hazardous risk,” Hoff said.

    “Merely identifying hazard without identifying the contest of risk associated with that hazard could actually provide a disservice to the end user,” he said.

    Consider consequences

    Hoff and the ERA are not trying to start a war with the EPA. In fact, it's just the opposite.

    The association applauded the EPA for listening to the expertise of the impacted industries as it establishes its standards. Thorp said the guidelines are being formulated with good intentions, but she stressed the ERA wants to ensure the EPA is evaluating all potential consequences—intended and unintended.

    Thorp believes the EPA will listen to the association's comments as it produces the second draft of its standards. After that, a round of public comments will be held before the standards become final.

    Hoff said the EPA's standards emphasize the best in science and consensus process development, but he hopes the guidelines can be expanded with emphases of risk assessment instead of settling for the standard of intrinsic hazard.

    “I think the EPA has done a really good job of trying to develop a good guideline of sustainable material standards,” Hoff said. “At least for me, this is simply a critique that challenges the EPA to take an additional step and be sure that the concepts of risk and exposure paths are being addressed along with simply the concept of intrinsic hazard.”

    Related Articles
    Roofing group champions EPDM
    Raising the roof issue: EPDM vs. TPO It's more than just a black, white debate
    Rubber roofing still has legs
    Lanxess to raise prices on EPDM grades
    ERA makes recommendation to EPA on environmental guidelines
    ERA praises ICC's decisions on roofing proposals
    EPA selects six universities for TRI research
    Roofing group selects first female chair
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber & Plastics News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    SIGN UP FOR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber & Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber & Plastics News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    web
    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Contact the Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Plastics News Europe
    • Plastics News China
    • Plastics & Rubber World
    • LSR World
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Autoweek
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2019. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • International Elastomer Show
      • Automotive
      • Tire
      • Non-Tire
      • Suppliers
      • Executive Action
      • Government/Legal
      • ITEC
      • Opinion
      • Technical Notebooks
      • HEXPOL Sponsored Content
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • Newsletters
      • Rubber in Automotive
      • Silicone News
      • Latex News
      • Sign Up for Newsletters
    • Multimedia
      • Videos
      • Photo Galleries
    • Directory
    • Resources
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
      • Data Store
      • Digital Issue
      • White Papers
    • Events
      • RPN Conferences
      • RPN Live
      • Events Calendar
      • Submit an Event
      • Webinars
      • Past Events
    • Advertise