EPA Requires Companies to Submit Data on Consumer Exposure for Eight Chemicals

A new round of “test orders” issued by EPA last week requires companies to submit data on consumer exposure for six chlorinated solvents and two flame retardants. Test orders, as described under section 4 of the Toxic Substance Control Act, grant EPA the authority to require chemical manufacturers, importers, and processors to develop and submit data to the agency. EPA may issue the orders if it determines that additional information is necessary to determine whether a chemical presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.

The chemicals subject to the agency’s action are the chlorinated solvents 1,1,2-trichloroethane; 1,2-dichloroethane; 1,2-dichloropropane; trans-1,2-dichloroethylene; o-dichlorobenzene; and p-dichlorobenzene; and the flame retardants 4,4’-(1-methylethylidene)bis[2,6-dibromophenol] (also known as TBBPA) and phosphoric acid, triphenyl ester (TPP). These chemicals are among the 20 designated as high priority for risk evaluation under TSCA in December 2019.

The agency is also requiring data on these chemicals related to avian and aquatic environmental hazards. In January 2022, the agency required the submission of data on workers’ inhalation and dermal exposures for the same eight chemicals.

For more information about the new requirement, read EPA’s press release. An explanation of test orders is available on the EPA website.