EPA Wants 16 Chemicals Added to Toxics Release Inventory

by | Apr 7, 2010

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chemicals4For the first time in a decade, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to add more chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) list of reportable chemicals. Based on a review of available studies that indicate these chemicals could cause cancer in people, the EPA proposes to add 16 chemicals to the TRI.

Four of the proposed chemicals fall under the polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) category, which includes chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT). These chemicals are not readily destroyed and may build up or accumulate in body tissue, according to the EPA. Click here for the complete list of proposed chemicals.

EPA estimates that 175 facilities will be impacted by this proposed rule. These facilities are expected to file 186 reports containing release and waste management data for the 16 chemicals.

The EPA database contains information on toxic chemical releases and waste management activities reported annually by specific industries as well as federal facilities. The TRI contains information on nearly 650 chemicals and chemical groups from about 22,000 industrial facilities. In April last year, the federal agency reinstated stricter reporting requirements, reversing the Bush administration’s less stringent regulations.

The EPA also announced a new policy in January that gives consumers more access to information on chemicals.

In March, the EPA also said it would add bisphenol A (BPA) to its list of chemicals of concern and require testing related to environmental effects.

EPA will accept public comments on the new proposal for 60 days after it appears in the Federal Register.

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