US NGOs urge EPA: ban five PBT substances immediately

Environmental groups in the US have vehemently opposed an American Chemistry Council (ACC) suggestion that the EPA should update its criteria for identifying and evaluating “persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic” (PBT) substances before it completes mandated rapid risk management action on five such substances.

In August 2017, the EPA published preliminary information on exposure and use for each of the five PBT chemicals the agency had identified in 2016, and asked for additional data.

In public comments made in response, the groups argue that TSCA’s mandate to reduce exposure to these substances “to the extent practicable” requires the EPA to ban their use entirely and take action to reduce exposure to “legacy” uses of the chemicals.

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