[Pharmwaste] European Chemical Clampdown Reaches Across Atlantic

[DeBiasi,Deborah]

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=european-chemical-clampdown-reaches-
across-atlantic

News -  September 30, 2008

European Chemical Clampdown Reaches Across Atlantic

Many chemicals manufactured in the U.S. have been pronounced "dangerous"
by the European Union
By David Biello 

  
Hundreds of chemicals likely to be identified by the European Union
(E.U.) as "substances of very high concern" are produced throughout the
U.S., sometimes in large quantities. In fact, chemicals such as
varieties of plastic-softening phthalates-linked to developmental and
reproductive problems because they mimic hormones-are produced in excess
of hundreds of million of pounds per year, according to a new report
from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) that is based on U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data from 2001.

"Many chemicals that the E.U. has already identified as dangerous and
will eventually regulate are produced in the U.S. by many different
companies at many different sites," says biochemist Richard Denison of
EDF, author of the report "Across the Pond: Assessing REACH's First Big
Impact on U.S. Companies and Chemicals". "The market is going to respond
to that, companies that use those chemicals will be looking to find
safer alternatives."

These dangerous chemicals have been identified via the E.U.'s 2007
Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals
(REACH) law, which requires the disclosure of all chemicals sold in the
E.U. in quantities of more than one metric ton per year. As it stands,
16 chemicals, including three phthalates, are already on the REACH list
as chemicals of concern. And in coming years, the REACH law will require
that companies prove the safety of a given chemical before it is allowed
to be sold; those chemicals deemed dangerous-or "substances of very high
concern" due to associated human health risks-will only be sold with
special governmental permission.

Of the 267 chemicals on the potential expanded REACH list compiled by
the International Chemical Secretariat in Sweden, two are regulated in
some form under U.S. law-asbestos and hexavalent chromium (chromium
VI)-and only one third have even been tested by the EPA. "Asbestos is
the poster child for what's wrong with the Toxics Substances Control
Act," the 1976 U.S. law governing such chemicals, Denison says. EPA
attempted to craft a regulation to ban its use only to have it rejected
by courts. "They couldn't even do it for asbestos," which causes lung
disease and cancer.

All told, the U.S. manufactures more than one billion pounds (455
million kilograms) of 14 potential REACH-listed chemicals, including two
varieties of toluene; 85 more are made in quantities exceeding one
million pounds (455,000 kilograms), like the phthalates which have
already been regulated in some cases in the E.U.

BASF, Chemtura, Dow, DuPont and Equistar make the most of these suspect
chemicals in the U.S., and Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Jersey,
New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas host operations that
manufacture them. Some of the most commonly produced dangerous chemicals
include benzene, formaldehyde, styrene, hexane and butadiene.

Whereas Germany-based chemical giant BASF "unreservedly supports the
goals of REACH in protecting man and the environment," it remains
unclear how that will impact its chemical operations in the U.S.
"Chemical manufacturing is our core business," BASF spokesman Daniel
Pepitone says. "We have already begun an internal product evaluation
and, based on risk assessment, we want to review all substances produced
or sold worldwide in the BASF Group in quantities of more than one
metric ton."

"Information regarding the hazardous properties of substances is simply
one component that is needed for the safe and responsible handling of
chemical products," he continues. "Further information, such as the type
and extent of potential exposure to humans and the environment, is also
required."

And some U.S. states are taking matters into their own hands: California
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) signed into law yesterday two bills that
will attempt to identify dangerous substances manufactured or used in
the state, develop safer alternatives to commonly used dangerous
compounds as well as create a web-based database of common chemicals for
individuals.

This legislation "puts an end to the less effective chemical-by-chemical
bans of the past," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "We will stop
looking at toxics as an inevitable by-product of industrial production.
Instead, they will be something that can be removed from every product
in the design stage-protecting people's health and our environment."

Deborah L. DeBiasi
Email:   dldebiasi at deq.virginia.gov
WEB site address:  www.deq.virginia.gov
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
Office of Water Permit Programs
Industrial Pretreatment/Toxics Management Program
PPCPs, EDCs, and Microconstituents
Mail:          P.O. Box 1105, Richmond, VA  23218 (NEW!)
Location:  629 E. Main Street, Richmond, VA  23219
PH:         804-698-4028
FAX:      804-698-4032