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The US EPA has released the risk assessment results of trichloroethyl phosphate (TCEP), which may face strict control in the future

Time：

2024-10-09

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the completion of a risk assessment for Trichloroethyl Phosphate (TCEP). TCEP is widely used in products such as paints and coatings, posing unreasonable risks to human health and the environment.

On September 23, 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the completion of a risk assessment for trichloroethyl phosphate (TCEP).

01. About TCEP

TCEP is one of the 20 high priority substances proposed by EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 2019, and it is also the first substance among these 20 priority substances to complete risk assessment.

TCEP is widely used in paints, coatings, textiles, foam seats, building materials, aerospace, automotive supplies and other imported goods.

Since 2014, the domestic production of TCEP in the United States has decreased by approximately 99%, but it is still used to manufacture certain paints and coatings for automotive applications, as well as flame retardants and plasticizers for specific aerospace applications.

TCEP, as a flame retardant, poses the following risks:

It exists in the dust of textiles (such as automotive interior textiles, carpets, etc.), foam and wood products, which are inhaled or ingested by consumers;

It exists in products for infants and children, including foam, textiles and wood products, and is ingested by infants and children;

During the production, processing, use, and disposal of TCEP and related products (including the preparation of paints and coatings, as well as the disposal of TCEP products such as landfill), TCEP is released into water bodies and air.

According to the EPA's assessment, the following conclusion has been drawn: TCEP poses unreasonable risks to human health and the environment, may cause kidney cancer, damage the nervous system and kidneys, and affect fertility.

02. Control measures

Although in this risk assessment, EPA has not yet clarified specific risk management measures for TCEP in the future.

However, based on EPA's risk management practices for other hazardous chemicals under TSCA, we can reasonably speculate that EPA may take the following control measures for TCEP in the future:

Prohibition of production/import, processing, distribution, and waste disposal of TCEP;

Prohibit the production/import and distribution of paints and coatings containing TCEP;

It is prohibited to produce/import and distribute articles containing TCEP, including textiles, foam seats, bedding, building materials, auto parts, etc;

It is prohibited to produce/import and distribute products for infants and children containing TCEP, such as foam products, textile products, and wood products;

Prohibit all consumer use of TCEP and related products;

Prohibit the use of TCEP paint and coatings for spraying purposes;

Establish a transition period for the use of polymers containing TCEP in aerospace and other equipment containing TCEP. After the transition period, it is not allowed to use them for related purposes;

Except for paint and coatings, it is required to protect the remaining uses in the workplace through a workplace chemical protection plan for workers;

Prohibit the release of TCEP and products from water bodies during production/processing;

TCEP and products are prohibited from being disposed of as waste through landfilling.

Please note that the final risk management rules will be based on the official version released by EPA in the future.

03. Warm reminder

Reminder to TCEP chemical, paint and coating companies exporting to the United States: Pay attention to TCEP regulatory dynamics and adjust trade plans in a timely manner;

At the same time, remind the enterprises exporting foam seats, bedding and building materials to the United States: pay attention to the use of TCEP in the supply chain, pay attention to green substitutes, and control regulatory risks from the source.