EU list bisphenol A and PFDA as particularly hazardous substances

Four new substances will be added to the EU's candidate list of especially hazardous chemical substances. The highly fluorinated substance PFDA included in the list following a proposal by Sweden. Among the new substances on the candidate list are bisphenol A.

The European Chemicals Agency ECHA Member State Committee has identified four additional chemical substances particularly hazardous. The topics will be added to the EU's so-called candidate list in January. Chemical substances included on the candidate list are subject to specific requirements for information and notification under the EU chemicals legislation REACH. They may also later be subject to license. The four substances now included in the list are:

• Bisphenol A (4,4-isopropylidenediphenol). The topic is on the list of proposals from France due to their reproductive toxicity.
• The highly fluorinated substance PFDA and its sodium and ammonium salts. PFDA inclusion on the candidate list on a proposal from Sweden because it is persistent in the environment, bioaccumulative and toxic to reproduction.
• 4-HPBLs (4-heptyl phenol) because of substance endocrine disruption in the environment. The proposal to add the substance on the list put forward by Austria.
• PTAP ( p-tert-penthylphenol ) proposed by Germany, because of endocrine disruption in the environment.

The decisions on the four substances were unanimous in medlemsstaskommittén. The topics will be included on the candidate list in January 2017.

The highly fluorinated PFDA substance may be present in textiles treated to resist water and stains. PFDA has been found in the impregnation spray, outdoor clothing, carpets, ski wax and sandwich paper. The subject is included in the group highly fluorinated substances, PFAS, which are extremely persistent in the environment. Chemicals Agency is working to reduce the use of these substances, especially for the protection of groundwater and drinking water from contamination. Highly fluorinated substances are used at low levels in many products because they have the ability to form smooth, water, grease and dirt-repellent surfaces.

Bisphenol A is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate and epoxy resins. The subject is suspected endocrine disruptor and are banned in baby bottles in the EU. In Sweden it is also forbidden at the relining of drinking water pipes, as well as in the paint and coatings in the food packages for children up to three years. The European Commission recently decided to ban from January 2020, on the bisphenol A in thermal paper, which is used among other cash receipts.

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