WASHINGTON—Chemicals used in the manufacture of rubber and polyurethane foam are among five substances placed on a list for “fast-track” regulatory treatment under a new chemical law, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced.
The chemicals on the list for expedited regulatory action include:
- Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), used in the manufacture of rubber compounds and lubricants and as a solvent;
- Pentachlorothio-phenol (PCTP), used as an agent to make rubber more pliable in industrial uses;
- Decabromodiphenyl ethers (DecaBDE), used as a flame retardant in textiles, plastics and polyurethane foam;
- Tris (4-isopropylphenyl) phosphate, used as a flame retardant in consumer products and other industrial uses; and
- 2,4,6-Tris(tert-butyl)phenol, used as an additive in fuels, oil, gasoline and lubricants.
The EPA is taking action on these chemicals under the authority of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which reforms the Toxic Substances Control Act to take expedited action to reduce exposure to certain persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals, the agency said in an Oct. 11 press release.
Under the statute, the EPA has a deadline of June 22, 2019 to propose action on these chemicals.