WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced efforts to carry out requirements of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act to reform the Toxic Substances Control Act and reduce exposure to certain persistent, bio-accumulative and toxic (PBT) chemicals.
“The threats from persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals are well-documented,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator in the EPA’s office of chemical safety and pollution prevention. “The new law directs us to expedite action to reduce risks for these chemicals, rather than spending more time evaluating them. We are working to ensure the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act signed in June of this year delivers on the promise of better protecting the environment and public health as quickly as possible.”
The EPA is currently working to reduce five chemicals: decabromodiphenyl ethers (DecaBDE), which are used as a flame retardant in certain products; hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), which is used in the manufacture of rubber compounds and lubricants, and as a solvent; pentachlorothio-phenol (PCTP), which is used as an agent to make rubber more pliable; tris (4-isopropylphenyl) phosphate, which is used as a flame retardant in certain consumer products; and 2,4,6-tris(tert-butyl)phenol, which is used as an oil additive.