NMP Draft Risk Evaluation Available for Public and Scientific Review

EPA is asking for public input on a draft risk evaluation of more than 30 uses of N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), including adhesives, sealants, paints and arts and craft paints, paint and coating removers, adhesive removers, and degreasers. This is the next step in a process outlined by the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to evaluate the risks associated with existing chemicals—a process that is designed to thoroughly evaluate the available science before taking action to manage potential risks associated with the use of the chemical. NMP is the sixth of the first ten chemicals to undergo risk evaluation under the amended TSCA.

The draft risk evaluation is not a final agency action. The draft risk evaluation represents the agency’s initial review of the scientific data on these chemicals and will be peer reviewed by independent, scientific experts as well as open to public comment. EPA will use feedback received from the peer review and public comment process to inform the final risk evaluation for NMP and will provide frequent updates on the agency’s progress through this process. If EPA’s final risk evaluation for NMP finds there are unreasonable adverse health risks associated with this chemical under any of the specific conditions of use, the agency will propose actions to address those risks within the timeframe required by TSCA. EPA’s actions could include proposed regulations to prohibit or limit the manufacture, processing, distribution in the marketplace, use, or disposal of this chemical, as applicable.

In the draft risk evaluation, EPA has made a preliminary determination that NMP does not present risks to the environment, bystanders, or occupational non-users. Additionally, the draft risk evaluation discusses how workers and consumers could be adversely affected by NMP under certain conditions of use. As with any chemical product, EPA strongly recommends that users carefully follow all instructions on the product’s label.

EPA will accept comments on the draft risk evaluation for 60 days after the Federal Register notice publishes. EPA will also hold a peer review meeting of EPA’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) on the draft risk evaluation for this chemical’s conditions of use on December 5-6, 2019. The peer review meeting is open to the public to attend and provide comments.

Additional information:

• View the draft risk evaluation and supporting documents:

  https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/draft-risk-evaluation-n-methylpyrrolidone-nmp

• Learn more about the peer review meeting:

  https://www.epa.gov/tsca-peer-review/peer-review-draft-risk-evaluation-nmp

Background

NMP, also called N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, or 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, is a chemical that is widely used during the manufacture and production of polymers, pharmaceuticals, agrichemicals and petroleum products. Information from the 2016 Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) for NMP indicates the reported production volume is more than 160 million lbs/year (manufacture and import).

SOURCE: US EPA Newsletter (4 November 2019)