European Agency Adds Four Substances to Hazardous Chemicals List
The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced on Jan. 17 the addition of four hazardous chemicals to its Candidate List of substances of very high concern for authorization. Details about these substances—including hazard classification and labeling information and properties of concern—are available from “infocards” published by ECHA. The substances newly added to the list include 6,6'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-methylenedi-p-cresol (infocard); tris(2-methoxyethoxy)vinylsilane (infocard); (±)-1,7,7-trimethyl-3-[(4-methylphenyl)methylene]bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, or 4-MBC (infocard); and S-(tricyclo(5.2.1.02,6)deca-3-en-8(or 9)-yl O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) phosphorodithioate (infocard).
ECHA’s website explains that the chemicals 6,6'-di-tert-butyl-2,2'-methylenedi-p-cresol and tris(2-methoxyethoxy)vinylsilane were added to the list because of the substances’ toxicity to reproduction. The substance S-(tricyclo(5.2.1.02,6)deca-3-en-8(or 9)-yl O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) O-(isopropyl or isobutyl or 2-ethylhexyl) phosphorodithioate is being added due to its persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) properties. According to ECHA, these three newly added substances are used in products such as rubbers, lubricants, and plastics. Another chemical, 4-MBC, is used in cosmetics and was identified as a substance of very high concern due to its endocrine-disrupting properties.
The Candidate List now contains 223 substances. Identifying a chemical as a substance of very high concern and including it in the Candidate List is the first step of the authorization procedure under REACH, the European Union’s Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals.