ECHA issues chemical substances warning
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has recommended that seven chemical substances of very high concern should not be used without specific authorisation. From its list of 15 candidate substances, ECHA has prioritised these seven substances based on their hazardous properties, the volumes used and the likelihood of exposure to humans or the environment.
Three of the recommended substances are classified as toxic to reproduction, one as carcinogenic and three fulfil the criteria for being persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) or very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB). They are all used in products to which consumers and workers are exposed.
The final decision on the inclusion of the substances in the authorisation list will be made by the European Commission. Substances on this list will only be allowed to be used within the EU when authorised for specific purposes.
The seven substances are: musk xylene (vPvB); 4,4`-diaminodiphenylmethane - MDA (carcinogenic); short-chained chlorinated paraffins - SCCPs (PBT and vPvB); Hexabromocyclododecane - HBCDD (PBT); Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate - DEHP (toxic for reproduction); Benzylbutylphthalate - BBP (toxic for reproduction); and Dibutylphthalate - DBP (toxic for reproduction).
Benzylbutylphthalate – BBP is a plasticiser that is sometimes used in leather and textile coatings, among other applications. Hexabromocyclododecane – HBCDD and short-chained chlorinated paraffins also have textile-related applications.
“I see this first science-based recommendation of substances for authorisation as an important milestone. The protection of human health and the environment is at the heart of REACH and submitting the use of these seven problematic substances to authorisation moves us one step closer to that goal,’ said executive director, Geert Dancet.
