Chemicals-in-Progress Bulletin
Office of Toxic Substances (OTS)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Vol. 11 No. 2
June 1990
EPA Acts to Further Reduce
Public's Exposure to Dioxin
On April 30, EPA announced that it will develop
regulations to reduce dioxin contamination in water
and soil resulting from the manufacture of chlorine-
bleached pulp and paper. The agency will also work
closely with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
to ensure that the already low risks posed by dioxin
in food packaging are further reduced.
"Even though dioxin levels in paper products
are small enough to be no cause for alarm, our in-
tention is to reduce those levels even more," said
EPA Deputy Administrator Hank Habicht. "We do,
however, believe the risk to consumers of certain fish
from waters downstream from some of these mills
to be more significant. EPA is taking actions that will
greatly lower dioxin discharges into those waters.
EPA will also intensify its cooperation with states to
identify hotspots and to encourage that fishing ad-
visories and bans are in place where necessary,"
Habicht said.
EPA's announced actions are based on an
assessment of dioxin risk associated with the pro-
duction of chlorine-bleached wood pulp; the risk
assessment was based on a study of all 104 pulp
and paper mills in the United States that use chlorine
bleaching. The risk assessment was a joint effort of
EPA, FDA, and the Consumer Product Safety Com-
mission.
Dioxin is a generic term for a group of 75 related
compounds known as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-
dioxins. In the production of bleached pulp and
paper, wood pulp is treated with chlorine; dioxin
compounds are an unwanted byproduct of this pro-
cess. Dioxin is a highly toxic chemical and is
classified by EPA as a probable human carcinogen.
It persists in the environment and can accumulate
in the tissue of fish, other wildlife, and humans.
The agency's action on dioxin is consistent with
the requirements of a 1988 consent decree between
EPA and the Environmental Defense Fund and Na-
tional Wildlife Federation. The consent decree set
a schedule for EPA to make decisions on the need
for regulation to control health and environmental
risks associated with dioxin-contaminated water
effluent, sludge, and paper products.
Continued on page 5
r—HIGHLIGHTS	
Page
OTS sets new goals for existing chemicals program	 2
Senate subcommittee hears EPA's asbestos policies 	 4
New existing chemicals testing list issued	 6
Chemicals will be screened in "clusters"	 13
TRI data for 1988 released	 14

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OTS Sets New Objectives for
Goal is Better Implementation of TSCA
By Charles L. Elkins
EPA's Office of Toxic Substances (OTS) is
redirecting its efforts in the Existing Chemicals Pro-
gram to more effectively
use the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA). These
changes in practices and
procedures will allow OTS
to implement TSCA as Con-
gress intended and to pro-
duce more environmental
results.
Our objective is to do a
better job of making deci-
sions about the thousands
of chemicals now on the market that may affect our
lives. Decisions on which chemicals require
regulatory and nonregulatory actions will be based
on OTS experts' growing understanding of the risks
to health and the environment from some of these
chemicals and the need to reduce these risks.
How Will OTS Change Its Approach
to Existing Chemicals?
Two basic themes capture the spirit of our
revitalization efforts:
First We will direct more of our energy and
resources toward achieving risk reduction
in the real world. This bias for action will
be reflected in OTS's making more deci-
sions about whether a chemical requires
regulation.
Second We are taking the OTS program public.
We are committed to making more of our
information publicly available. We want
people to know what our analysis shows
about the hazards of chemicals we screen,
and we will inform the public both when
there is a need for testing and risk reduc-
tion and when there is not. We also want
to invite the public to help us identify
hazards, set priorities, and reduce risk.
The following outline of program changes is an
initial framework for change. It may be modified as
other individuals and groups become increasingly
involved.
What Do the Changes Consist of?
1.	Use the authorities of TSCA as Congress in-
tended, with a stronger bias for action to
achieve the statute's intent to protect health
and the environment.
Inside and outside OTS, people have expressed
concern about the way OTS traditionally conducts
its business. Under TSCA, OTS is responsible for
determining whether chemicals, taking into con-
sideration their economic benefits, pose an un-
reasonable risk, and for taking appropriate action.
With over 50,000 existing commercial chemicals be-
ing manufactured in the United States, the job under
TSCA is a daunting one. Based on our experience
with the New Chemicals Program over the past
several years, however, we believe we have now
developed some new approaches to addressing this
universe of existing chemicals that will allow us to
achieve results more in keeping with the ambitious
objectives set by the Congress at the time TSCA was
enacted.
2.	Streamline our program to allow OTS to make
more decisions about which chemicals re-
quire regulation, using more innovative
regulatory approaches and, when ap-
propriate, supplementing these activities
with creative programmatic actions to reduce
risks from existing chemicals.
To be more effective in reducing risks from
existing chemicals, OTS has decided it is necessary
to change its approach to three activities: risk
management, chemical screening, and chemical
testing.
Risk Management. Risk reduction is the
ultimate goal of the whole existing chemical process.
To achieve greater risk reduction, risk management
opportunities will be seriously considered at all
stages of the risk assessment process. This will allow
earlier risk management actions to be taken when
they are appropriate. In addition, traditional
regulatory approaches will be supplemented with
greater use of "lower threshold" regulatory actions
and more creative programmatic approaches.
2
June 1990

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Existing Chemicals Program
The process will use a graduated response to
risk reduction. This graduated approach will make
use of such concepts as "product stewardship," a
process by which a manufacturer assesses the
safety, health, and environmental information on its
products throughout their life cycle and then takes
appropriate steps to protect employee and public
health and the environment. The graduated
response process will also use, when appropriate,
the menu of technical assistance and other activities
that have proved successful in the OTS asbestos-
in-schools program. These activities include spon-
soring public dialogues on key issues and produc-
ing citizen and consumer guides, training materials,
and technical control guidance. Decisions on all
these program activities will be made at the earliest
possible review stage as appropriate, while allow-
ing more stringent and comprehensive actions once
additional requisite analysis has been performed.
Chemical Screening. Screening of chemicals
in commerce to identify potential risks will be linked
more directly to the risk management portion of the
program to support making decisions on risk reduc-
tion. To make the most effective use of our
resources, OTS will screen chemical clusters, or like
groups of chemicals, together. Screening activities
will also incorporate growing international efforts,
where OTS already is a key player. Several chemical
clusters were selected for screening in May, and by
autumn, OTS will begin publishing the results of
these initial screening efforts. Through this process,
OTS will identify additional chemicals that deserve
further action, as well as chemicals (expected to con-
stitute the majority) that appear to present little or
no risk. (See related article on page 13.)
Chemical Testing. In the future, an accelera-
tion of the testing of chemicals is essential to an
understanding of potential risks. The development
of single chemical test rules, however, is too
resource-intensive for OTS to continue to use as the
principal means of obtaining testing from industry.
Wherever possible, OTS will use model, or generic,
rules to maximize productivity. By this fall, OTS will
propose its first generic test rule. Further, OTS will
communicate more clearly to the public on our
proposed chemical testing priorities. For example,
we will establish first- and second-priority chemicals.
On first-priority chemicals, OTS will expect com-
panies to submit test data or make a commitment
to conduct the testing in the near future, with the
alternative being that OTS will issue a test rule.
Second-priority chemicals will be next in line to
become top priorities. Second priorities provide in-
dustry with advance notice of testing needs, which
it may decide to fill voluntarily. In addition, interna-
tional programs of voluntary testing on high-
production-volume chemicals will continue to be an
important element in the OTS testing program.
3.	Incorporate the principle of right-to-know in
our implementation of TSCA.
The experience of working with the right-to-
know program under the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-To-Know Act has convinced OTS
that increasing the public's access to environmental
data is valuable. OTS is examining TSCA in light of
right-to-know principles and is finding that the pro-
tection of confidential business information and the
provision of beneficial information to the public are
compatible in many instances and should be
pursued.
With right-to-know principles in mind, OTS will
increase public access to its data by taking several
initial steps. First, OTS will make publicly available
the results of all its risk assessments. Second, OTS
is making available to the public its testing priorities.
(See related article on page 6.) Third, OTS will make
publicly available its screening results, including
chemicals that appear to pose a risk as well as those
that appear to pose little or no risk.
4.	More actively involve others in setting and
accomplishing the national agenda for toxic
chemicals and in designing the specifics of
the new OTS program.
OTS is seeking to better integrate its efforts with
those of others in the "toxic substances commu-
nity." By "others," OTS means environmental
groups, labor, industry, academia, other federal
agencies, state and local governments, the interna-
tional community, and the public at large. Beginning
with the changes being introduced here, OTS is in-
viting these various constituencies to help shape the
specifics of its new program. OTS will also be ex-
ploring ways to "work smarter" with others by tak-
ing such steps as dividing tasks on the international
toxic substances agenda with other countries, in-
creasing public access to its own data, and using
the results others produce to expedite progress on
the federal level.
June 1990
3

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Fisher Outlines Asbestos Policies
ln-place management recommended by EPA
Linda J. Fisher, Assistant Administrator for
EPA's Office of Pesticides and Toxic Substances,
recently testified on EPA policies to control asbestos
in schools and public and commercial buildings
before the Senate Subcommittee on Toxic
Substances. In her testimony, Ms. Fisher outlined
the following five facts about asbestos:
FACT ONE:
Although asbestos is hazardous, human risk of
asbestos disease depends upon exposure.
Asbestos is known to cause cancer and other
diseases if fibers are inhaled into the lung and re-
main there. This conclusion is based on studies
involving human exposure, particularly exposure at
high levels.
As an article in Science recently indicated,
exposure to chrysotile, or common white, asbestos
may be less likely to cause some asbestos-related
diseases than are other types of asbestos. The
National Academy of Sciences and various other
scientific organizations, however, support EPA's
more prudent approach of regulating all types of
asbestos.
Regarding the so-called "one fiber can kill"
reports on asbestos in the popular media, current
scientific evidence will not allow us to state un-
equivocally that there is no risk below a certain level
of exposure. This does not mean that all or any
exposure is inherently dangerous, but, in fact, the
risk could be negligible or even zero.
The mere presence of asbestos on an
auditorium ceiling, for example, no more implies
disease than a potential poison in a medicine cabinet
or under a kitchen sink implies poisoning. Asbestos
fibers must be released from the material in which
they are contained, and an individual must breathe
those fibers to incur any chance of disease. Almost
every day, we are exposed to some prevailing level
of asbestos fibers in buildings or experience some
ambient level in the outdoor air. And, based on
available data, very few among us, given existing
controls, have contracted or will ever contract an
asbestos-related disease at these low prevailing
levels.
FACT TWO:
Prevailing asbestos levels In buildings seem to
be very low. Accordingly, the health risk to
building occupants also appears to be very low.
A 1987 EPA study found that air levels of
asbestos in a segment of federal buildings with
management programs were so low that they were
virtually indistinguishable from levels outside these
buildings. While these data are not conclusive and
we are seeking more information through a major
research effort, the present evidence suggests that
building occupants face only a very slight risk.
Severe health problems attributed to asbestos ex-
posure have generally been experienced by workers
in industries such as shipbuilding. In these in-
dustries, workers were constantly exposed to very
high fiber levels in the air, often without any of the
worker protection now afforded them under the law.
FACT THREE:
Removal is often not a building owner's best
course of action to reduce asbestos exposure.
Although logic suggests that wholesale
asbestos removal from a building would best
eliminate any potential hazard, this is not always true
as a practical matter. Asbestos removal practices by
their very design disturb the material and signifi-
cantly elevate air levels of asbestos fibers, which
must be carefully contained during the removal pro-
ject. Unless all safeguards are properly applied and
strictly adhered to, exposure in the building can rise,
perhaps to levels where we know disease can occur.
Consequently, an ill-conceived or poorly conducted
removal project can actually increase rather than
eliminate risk.
FACT FOUR:
EPA requires asbestos removal only in order to
prevent significant public exposure to asbestos
during building renovation or demolition.
Prior to a major renovation or demolition,
asbestos material likely to be disturbed or damaged
to the extent that significant amounts of asbestos
would be released must be removed using approved
practices under EPA's asbestos National Emissions
Continued on next page
4
June 1990

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Senate Subcommittee Hears Fisher
Continued from page 4
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).
Demolishing a building filled with asbestos, for ex-
ample, would likely result in significantly increased
exposure and could create an imminent hazard.
Clearly, asbestos removal before the wrecking ball
swings into action is appropriate to protect public
health.
Arbitrary asbestos removal projects, however,
as noted above, can actually increase health risk
unless properly performed. In part for this reason,
EPA has not mandated asbestos removal from
buildings beyond the NESHAP requirement, which
has the effect of gradually and rationally taking all
remaining asbestos building materials out of the in-
ventory.
FACT FIVE:
EPA does recommend in-place management
whenever asbestos is discovered.
A proactive in-place management program will
usually control fiber release, particularly when the
materials are not significantly damaged and not likely
to be disturbed. Effective in-place management in-
volves training, awareness, special control pro-
cedures, and periodic surveillance. Taken together,
these measures effectively minimize asbestos risks
in most situations, without the cost and disruption
of a removal. An in-place management program
does not have to be extraordinarily expensive.
Management costs will depend on the amount, con-
dition, and location of the material.
In-place management, of course, does not
mean "do nothing." A building owner who finds
asbestos in his facility and ignores it has no way to
ensure that maintenance and service workers, in the
course of their daily activities, will not disturb
materials that can elevate asbestos fiber levels. The
reduction of unnecessary exposure for these
workers, whose work may put them at significantly
higher risk, is a primary concern of EPA and other
federal, state, and local agencies that regulate
asbestos.
EPA Seeks to Reduce
Continued from page 1
Water Effluent
To reduce levels of dioxin discharged from pulp
and paper mills into rivers and streams, EPA will ag-
gressively apply the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) and will develop
technology-based effluent standards to reduce the
levels of dioxin and total chlorinated organics pro-
duced during the manufacture of bleached paper
products.
industrial Sludge
EPA will propose regulations under the Toxic
Substances Control Act to address the practice of
using dioxin-contaminated sludge from pulp and
paper mills as a soil conditioner. Approximately 12
percent of industrial sludge from pulp and paper mills
is used for this purpose.
The agency will also determine whether to use
the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act to
establish guidelines for best management practices
for landfills and sludge lagoons that contain sludge
from pulp and paper mills.
Risks from Dioxin
Food Contact Papers
EPA will ask the FDA to formally take lead
responsibility for managing risks from dioxin in food
contact papers. The FDA has for some time been
working actively and cooperatively with EPA on this
issue. Although both EPA and FDA have concluded
that the risk to consumers from dioxin in food con-
tact papers is small, both agree that this risk can and
should be further reduced.
Other Actions
In addition to actions taken under the consent
decree, EPA has proposed a pollution-prevention
initiative—to involve industry, environmental and
other interest groups, other federal agencies, states,
and the international regulatory community—whose
purpose is to accelerate reductions in dioxin pollu-
tion through manufacturing process modifications,
including use of chlorine substitutes. The initiative
will include ongoing discussions among interested
parties regarding further efforts to reduce or prevent
dioxin pollution; information exchange with Canada,
the Federal Republic of Germany, Sweden, and
other nations; technology transfer; and public infor-
mation efforts.
June 1990
5

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OTS Lists Chemicals Under
The two lists that are published on pages 7 to
12 show all the chemicals that are under considera-
tion for testing or are currently subject to risk
management/risk assessment activities by the Of-
fice of Toxic Substances (OTS). During periodic
reviews, OTS will remove chemicals from these lists
if there is no reason for concern or if appropriate risk
management actions have been taken.
If you have any questions about the Existing
Chemicals Program lists discussed in this section,
please call the TSCA Assistance Information Service
at (202) 554-1404.
Current Master Testing List
OTS has compiled a master list of the chemicals
it is considering for testing by industry. This Master
Testing List reflects the chemicals for which the col-
lection of certain health and safety test data is a
priority to OTS.
OTS identified the need for data from its own
initiatives, referrals from the Interagency Testing
Committee (ITC) and other EPA offices or federal
agencies, and through OTS participation in interna-
tional activities. The list is current as of May 1990
and will be updated periodically.
It should not be assumed that OTS will initiate
a rulemaking to collect or generate data on each of
these chemicals. In some instances, existing test
data that OTS is unaware of may meet specific data
needs. In other cases, needed test data are being
generated voluntarily by domestic or international
industry, or the data may be generated by and
through the federal government.
In many cases, however, EPA will pursue the
needed information using statutory authorities under
TSCA. In particular, TSCA authority may be used
when the ITC refers or designates a chemical to EPA
to consider for priority testing. Under TSCA, EPA can
require that available data be submitted and, where
appropriate, require the development of test data.
EPA will supplement its rulemaking authority
through negotiation of enforceable testing consent
orders where appropriate.
How to Read the List
The Master Testing List is presented in tabular
format. This version of the list has been generated
in Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) number order.
An explanation of each column heading and the
possible entries follows.
CAS Number
The CAS number is the unique numeric iden-
tifier assigned to chemicals by the Chemical
Abstracts Service. Hyphens have been omitted.
In addition to specific individual chemicals, there
are two categories of chemicals on the Master
Testing List: (1) glycidol and its derivatives and (2)
ethylene glycol ethers. The categories, as such, do
not have CAS numbers. There are also two entries
under the CAS number column heading for endpoint-
specific neurotoxicity. These entries represent OTS
initiatives to obtain testing on groups of chemicals
where either developmental toxicity or neurotoxicity
testing is indicated.
Chemical Name
The Master Testing List lists the chemical or
common name provided by the organization that first
identified to OTS the need for testing. These names
have not been standardized to the most recent CAS
or International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry
(IUPAC) format.
Source
The chemicals listed on the Master Testing List
have been identified for testing through several dif-
ferent sources. To date, these sources have con-
sisted of U.S. government organizations and the
international toxics community.
OECD. The Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development member countries
have agreed that there should be a base set of
screening-level test data available on certain high-
production chemicals. In November 1989, OECD
member countries developed a list of 147 high-
priority chemicals for which these data, known as
the Screening Information Data Set (SIDS), should
be produced. In April 1990, the OECD agreed to
undertake a pilot study of 53 of these chemicals.
6
June 1990

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Consideration for Testing
Those 53 chemicals are included on the Master
Testing List. This pilot is regarded as a cooperative
voluntary program, with representatives from the
chemical industry and member countries' govern-
ments participating.
ITC. The Interagency Testing Committee is
another major source of chemicals on the Master
Testing List. Several of the chemicals listed here are
backlogged cases where, generally because of com-
plexities in the case, OTS does not yet have a final
consent order or test rule. Others are new ITC
recommendations or designations. The ITC Report
that recommended or designated the chemical is in-
dicated by number.
OTS. Chemicals listed are priorities for testing
that OTS has identified during the screening or risk
assessment process. In addition, OTS is develop-
ing endpoint-specific test requirements that will
encompass a number of specific chemicals that are
not yet identified. The testing efforts now being pur-
sued under this aspect of the program include a
developmental toxicity endpoint rule and a solvent
neurotoxicity endpoint rule.
Other EPA Offices. OTS is working with three
other EPA offices to generate needed test data.
These offices are OAR (Office of Air and Radiation),
ODW (Office of Drinking Water), and ORD (Office
of Research and Development). OTS currently has
a testing program under way that includes 33
chemicals for which the EPA Office of Solid Waste
has identified needed test data, and testing for each
of the chemicals is complete or nearing completion.
Other Agencies. OTS is working with two other
federal agencies to generate needed test data:
ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry) and CPSC (Consumer Product Safety
Commission).
SIDS. For each of the chemicals currently being
handled through OECD's voluntary SIDS testing pro-
gram, a two-letter code is provided to identify the
country that is conducting tests.
AT
Austria
BE
Belgium
CA
Canada
DK
Denmark
Fl
Finland
FR
France
DE
Germany
IT
Italy
JP
Japan
NL
Netherlands
SE
Sweden
CH
Switzerland
UK
United Kingdom
US
United States
HLTH, ENV, FATE, and EXP
The columns flagged with an "X" indicate the
general area(s) of testing that OTS believes is
necessary for the listed chemical. The definition of
each abbreviated column head follows:
HLTH Health effects
ENV Environmental effects
FATE Chemical fate
EXP Exposure testing
Master Testing List
May 1990
CAS Number
Chemical Name
Source
SIDS HLTH ENV FATE EXP
Category
Category
Ethylene glycol ethers
Glycidol and derivatives
Endpoint-Specific Testing Requirement:
Developmental Toxicity
Endpoint-Specillc Testing Requirement:
Solvent Neurotoxicity
OTS, OSHA,
CPSC, NIOSH
ITC 3
OTS
OTS
Continued on page 8
June 1990
7

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Master Testing List, Continued
CAS Number	Chemical Name	Source	SIDS HLTH ENV FATE EXP
56235
Carbon tetrachloride
ATSDR

X
59676
3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid
OECD
CH

70553
Benzenesulfonamide, 4-methyl-
OECD
JP

74873
Chloromethane
ODW

X
75003
Chloroethane
ATSDR, ODW

X
75343
1,1-Dichloroethane
ODW

X
75354
1,1-Dichloroethene
OAR

X
75547
Silane, dicholoromethyl-
OECD
FR

75694
Fluorotrichloromethane
ODW

X
75774
Silane, chlorotrimethyl-
OECD
US

75785
Silane, dichlorodimethyl-
OECD
FR

75796
Silane, trichloromethyl-
OECD
FR

75912
Hydroperoxide, 1,1-dimethylethyl-
OECD
NL

77996
1,3-Propanedio, 2-ethyl-
2-(hydroxymethyl)-
OECD
JP

78591
Isophorone
ATSDR

X
78842
Propanal, 2-methyl-
OECD
US

79005
1,1,2-Trichloroethane
ODW

X
79345
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane
ODW

X
88722
Benzene, 1-methyl-2-nitro-
OECD
SE

99092
Benzenamine, 3-nitro-
OECD
JP

100403
4-Vinylcyclohexene
ITC 25

X
101724
1,4-Benzenediamine, N-(l-methylethyl)-
N'-N'-pbenyl-
OECD
UK

103651
n-Propyl benzene
ODW

X
105760
Maleic acid, dibutyl ester
OECD
AT

107017
2-Butene
OECD
NL

108678
1,3,4-Trimethylbenzene
ODW

X
108894
Pyridine, 4-methyl-
OECD
BE

108952
Phenol
ATSDR

X
108996
Pyridine, 3-methyl-
OECD
BE

109068
Pyridine, 2-methyl-
OECD
BE

109660
Pentane
OECD
CA

110827
Cyclohexane
ITC 18

X
112538
1 -Dodecanol
OECD
DK

112925
1 -Octadecanol
OECD
DK

8	June 1990

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Master Testing List, Continued
CAS Number
Chemical Name
Source
SIDS HLTH ENV FATE EXP
115866
115968
116154
121573
122521
123386
123728
126307
126589
128392
141797
141979
143226
147148
156434
294622
504609
536903
556672
584032
590863
682097
693232
823405
836306
872059
872504
1000824
1163195
1241947
1330785
1758732
2402791
2431507
Phosphate, triphenyl	ITC 2
Phosphate, tris(2-chloroethyl)	ITC 23
1-Propene, 1,1,2,3,3,3-hexafluoro-	OECD
Benzenesulfonic acid, 4-amino-	OECD
Phosphorous acid, triethyl ester	OECD
Propanal	OECD
Butyraldehyde	ITC 23
1,3-Propanediol, 2,2-dimethyl-	OECD
1,3-Propanediol, 2,2'-[oxybis(methylene)] OECD
bis[2-(hydroxymethyl)-
Phenol, 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-	OECD
Mesityl oxide	ITC 4
Butanoic acid, 3-oxo-, ethyl ester	OECD
Ethanol, 2-[2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethoxy]- OECD
C.I. Pigment Blue 15	OECD
Benzenamine, 4-ethoxy-	OECD
Cyclododecane	OECD
1,3-Pentadiene	OECD
Benzenamine, 3-methoxy-	OECD
Cyclotetrasiloxane, octamethyl-	OECD
1,2-Butanediol	OECD
Butanal, 3-methyl-	OECD
1-Butanol, 2,2-bis[(2-propeny!oxy)	OECD
methyl]-
Dodecanedioic acid	OECD
2,6-Toluenediamine	ITC 6
Benzenamine, 4-nitro-N-phenyl-	OECD
1-Decene	OECD
N-Methylpyrrolidone	CPSC
Methylolurea	ITC 12
Decabromodiphenyl ether	ITC 25
Phosphate, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl	ITC 2
Phosphate, tricresyl	ITC 2
Methanesulfinic acid, aminoimino-	OECD
Pyridine, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-	OECD
1-Butene, 2,3,4-trichloro-	OECD
IT
DE
DE
US
JP
SE
CH
UK
NL
JP
JP
FR
US
JP
US
JP
DE
DE
US
BE
Fl
AT
US
DE
XXX
X
X
X X X X
X
X
Continued on page 10
June 1990
9

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Master Testing List, Continued
CAS Number
Chemical Name
Source
SIDS HLTH ENV FATE EXP
2528361
2720732
3194556
3209221
6145739
6386385
6419198
9011056
13674845
13674878
16529569
25155231
25265774
28108998
29171208
29590429
29761215
32534819
32536520
33125869
37853591
37971361
51363645
56803373
65652417
68122861
68410695
68413047
68515424
68611643
72623826
97380663
Phosphate, di(n-butyl)phenyl	ITC 2
Carbodithioic acid, O-pentyl ester,	OECD
potassium salt
Hexabromocyclododecane	ITC 25
Benzene, 1,2-dichloro-3-nitro-	OECD
Phosphate, tris(chloropropyl)	ITC 23
Benzenepropanoic acid, 3,5-bis(l,i-di-	OECD
methylethyl)-4-hydroxy-, methyl ester
Phosphonic acid [nitrilotris	OECD
(methylene)]tris-
Urea-formaldehyde resins	ITC 12
Phosphate, tris(1-chloro-1-propyl)	ITC 23
Phosphate, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)	ITC 23
3-Butenenitrile, 2-methyl-	OECD
Phosphate, trixylyl	ITC 2
Propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, monoester	OECD
with 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentatediol
Phosphate, isopropylphenyl diphenyl	ITC 2
6-Octen-1-yn-3-ol, 3,7-dimethyl-	OECD
2-Propenoic acid, isooctyl ester	OECD
Phosphate, isodecyl diphenyl	ITC 2
Pentabromodiphenyl ether	ITC 25
Octabromodiphenyl ether	ITC 25
Phosphate, tetrakis(2-chloroethyl)	ITC 23
ethylene, di-
Ethane, 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)	ITC 25
1,2,4-Butanetricarboxylic acid,	OECD
2-phosphono-
Phosphate, diisodecyl phenyl	ITC 2
Phosphate, tert-butylphenyl diphenyl	ITC 2
Phosphate, bis(tert-butylphenyl) phenyl	ITC 2
Quaternary ammonium compounds,	ITC 25
imidazolium
Quaternary ammonium compounds,	ITC 25
ethcxylated
Quaternary ammonium compounds,	ITC 25
ethoxylated
Phthalate, di(heptyl,nonyl,undecyl)	ITC 1
Urea-formaldehyde resins	ITC 12
Quaternary ammonium compounds,	ITC 25
imidazolium
Urea-formaldehyde resins	ITC 12
CA
JP
CH
UK
FR
US
CH
US
DE
X X X X
XXX
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
10
June 1990

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Chemicals Currently Under Review Within OTS
OTS carries out risk assessment and risk
management activities under the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA). The office is
revising the way in which these activities are
organized and carried out internally. (See
related article on page 2.)
The chemicals listed below are already
under active review within OTS. These
chemicals will continue to be processed, but
in accordance with the new procedures being
adopted to maximize productivity.
Current Chemical Management Activities
May 1990
Chemical/Activity
Risk Characterization
OTS Activity
Acrylamlde, chemical grouting uses.
Acrylonltrile, emissions from industrial
facilities.
Aniline, emissions from industrial facilities.
Aqueous and terpens cleaners, all
commercial/industrial uses.
Asbestos, all commercial activities.
Bromlnated flame retardants, used in plastics.
Dlchloromethane (methylene chloride), used
in chemical paint stripping formulations.
Dlchloromethane (methylene chloride), in
consumer aerosols.
A probable human carcinogen with
demonstrated neurotoxic and reproductive
effects; significant exposure can occur during
the grouting of sewers and sealing of
manholes.
A probable human carcinogen that may also
pose a risk of developmental effects to
populations who reside around these facilities.
A probable human carcinogen (Group B2)
identified from 1987 Toxic Release Inventory
data; emissions were particularly high from one
facility; linked to incidents of bladder cancer in
occupational settings.
The careless disposal of these cleaners may
pose high environmental risks, especially to
aquatic life. Terpenes may also pose risks of
neurotoxic, developmental, reproductive, and
kidney effects.
A human carcinogen that is the subject of an
EPA ban and phase-out rule.
Present potential risk of cancer and
developmental effects in humans; contain
brominated dioxins as an impurity and may
pose risk to consumers and plastic product
users; also may pose risk of adverse
environmental effects.
A chlorinated solvent that may pose human
cancer risks both in the workplace and
consumer settings.
A chlorinated solvent that may pose cancer
risks for consumers.
OTS is preparing a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPR) to
be issued under TSCA section
6.
OTS is listing the chemical for
testing, performing a risk
screen, and discussing its risk
concerns with outside parties.
OTS is performing a risk
screen and is discussing its
risk concerns with outside
parties.
OTS is conducting a health
and environmental
assessment under its
chlorinated fluorocarbons
(CFC) substitutes review
program.
OTS is engaged in abatement,
information dissemination, and
implementing comprehensive
control actions.
OTS is pursuing a testing
program and will be
discussing its concerns with
outside parties.
OTS is exploring substitutes
and alternative risk reduction
options.
OTS is awaiting a market
evaluation by the Consumer
Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) and exploring risk
reduction options with CPSC.
Continued on page 12
June 1990
11

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Current Chemical Management Activities, Continued
Chemical/Activity
Risk Characterization
OTS Activity
Dioxiri and furans, in bleached paper
products.
Probable human carcinogenic (Group B2)
impurities, produced in paper bleaching
operations, that can contaminate certain paper
products, industrial sludge, and paper mill
effluent streams.
EPA is pursuing risk reduction
in mill effluents and for sludge
and will be referring the subject
of paper products to the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA)
under section 9 of TSCA.
Oioxins and furans, brominated and
chlorinated, in all contaminated products.
As impurities, present potential risk for cancer
and developmental effects in consumers/users
of products; also pose risk of adverse
environmental effects.
OTS has taken action under
TSCA sections 4 and 8 and,
under a consent decree, is
assessing the need for control
action.
Formaldehyde, emissions from urea-
formaldehyde (UF) pressed wood products.
A probable human carcinogen (Group B1) that
may pose significant cancer risk to occupants
of new homes that contain large amounts of
UF pressed wood.
OTS is updating its risk
assessment and conducting a
priority regulatory investigation
currently targeted for decision
in late 1990.
Hydrazine, environmental releases from
industrial facilities.
Lead, all commercial uses.
Nitrites, used in metalworking fluids.
Perchloroethylene, in consumer aerosols.
Perchioroethylene, used in commercial dry
cleaning.
A probable human carcinogen and aquatic
toxin identified from Toxic Release Inventory
data.
An environmentally pervasive, bioaccumulating
heavy metal capable of producing neurological
and developmental abnormalities in humans.
Their formulation as part of, or subsequent
addition to, metalworking fluids likely causes
the formation of, and occupational exposure to,
nitrosamines—human carcinogens.
A probable human carcinogenic solvent.
A probable human carcinogenic solvent that is
off-gased from dry-cleaned fabric and may
pose potential risk to consumers.
OTS is considering testing (for
developmental toxicity) and
discussing its concerns with
outside parties.
OTS is developing a
comprehensive agencywide
approach to risk reduction
under the EPA Pollution
Prevention program.
OTS is issuing a significant
new use rule (SNUR)
applicable to any resumption
of commercial activity.
OTS is exploring risk
reduction options with CPSC.
OTS is exploring testing
options.
Polychlorinated biphenyls, all commercial and
disposal activities.
A persistent environmental contaminant that
poses carcinogenic risk to humans and wildlife.
OTS is implementing control
regulations under TSCA
section 6.
Ortho-Toluldlne, emissions from industrial
facilities.
A probable human carcinogen identified from
Toxic Release Inventory data; linked to
incidents of bladder cancer in occupational
settings.
OTS is performing a risk
screen and is discussing its
risk concerns with outside
parties.
New Information on Existing Chemicals Available to Public
New information about existing chemicals will
be available from the TSCA Assistance Information
Service (TSCA Hotline) as of August 1.
Under its revised approach to existing
chemicals, OTS staff meets weekly to determine
whether it is appropriate to take early risk
management actions on a chemical. OTS schedules
chemicals for these Risk Management Level I (RM1)
meetings six weeks in advance.
The TSCA Hotline will have available for
distribution both the six-week calendars and
summaries of RM1 decision. Calendars will include
a brief description of why a chemical is being brought
to an RM1 meeting. Please note that any comments
or information received by OTS regarding these
calendars or summaries will be made part of the
public record.
The TSCA Hotline, 202-554-1404, operates
Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Eastern time. FAX requests for documents are
received at all times on 202-554-5603.
12
June 1990

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OTS Expects to Do More Reviews
by Screening Chemicals in Clusters
The Office of Toxic Substances (OTS) is em-
barking on a new program to increase the number
of chemicals that it screens for health and en-
vironmental risks. This expanded program to screen
existing data on chemicals is expected to lead to
more information gathering, testing, and risk
management actions on existing commercial
chemicals. It will also allow OTS to identify chemicals
for which there appears to be little or no risk and to
make that information public.
A key component of this effort is the review of
"clusters" of chemicals. These groups of chemicals
are related by defined characteristics such as
chemical structure, physical/chemical properties,
use/exposure patterns, or toxicologic effects.
Screening chemicals in clusters will greatly increase
the number of chemicals reviewed in OTS and will
allow decisions to be made on entire groups of
chemicals. For example, a group of high-exposure
chemicals that has very limited toxicologic data could
be targeted for further testing.
The clusters that OTS has selected as high-
priority projects in the screening program are briefly
described below:
Persistent, Bioaccumulative Chemicals
OTS's experience with new chemicals has
shown that certain physical/chemical (p-chem) pro-
perties can identify classes of chemicals that per-
sist in the environment and tend to bioaccumulate
in lipid tissues. Toxic chemicals with these
characteristics have been some of the most pro-
blematic for the environment (e.g., DDT, PCBs,
chlorinated dioxins and furans).
P-chem properties (such as log P, molecular
weight, and melting point) will be used to screen lists
of chemicals. From this information, referrals can be
made for toxicity testing and risk assessment/risk
management.
TSCA Inventory Chemicals in Structural
Categories of Concern
Chemicals in certain categories are routinely
subjected to section 5(e) data development orders
and section 5(a) significant new use rules in the
TSCA New Chemicals Program. This project focuses
on existing chemicals that are subject to the inven-
tory update rule. (See related article on page 16.)
It will systematically identify the chemicals that fall
within the same structural categories of concern for
health or environmental effects.
Major factors employed in screening will be pro-
duction volume, environmental fate properties, and
chemical structure/activity relations as defined in the
New Chemicals Program's "categories of concern."
The product of the screening effort will be individual
chemical dossiers and possible referrals for testing
and risk assessment/risk management.
Toxic Release Inventory Chemicals
This project is designed to identify Toxic
Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals as candidates for
risk assessment and risk management under TSCA.
The project has five major components, four of which
have been completed:
1.	Prescreening (completed): Chemicals not con-
sidered to be good candidates for OTS action
were deferred from screening. These deferrals in-
clude chemicals already under detailed assess-
ment or regulation and chemicals for which no TRI
reports were received.
2.	Hazard Ranking (completed): Chemicals were
assigned a high, medium, or low hazard ranking
based on existing agency standards and evalua-
tions (e.g., reportable quantities, reference doses,
carcinogen slope factors).
3.	Exposure Ranking (completed): Chemicals
were assigned a high, medium, or low exposure
ranking based on limited analysis of TRI data
using simple models.
4.	Exposure Evaluation (completed): Rough
quantitative estimates of site-specific exposures
were derived from TRI data and standard models.
5.	Preliminary Risk Assessment: Hazard and ex-
posure information will be integrated to identify
health and environmental risks.
June 1990
13

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1988 TRI Results Announced
• See chart on next page
Initial results of the 1988 Toxic Release Inven-
tory (TRI) show that 4.57 billion pounds of toxic
chemicals were released into the nation's air, water,
and land in 1988.
Overall, TRI releases in 1988 were 8.8 percent
lower than in 1987 (see accompanying chart). But
EPA cautions that the lower numbers do not
necessarily indicate any reduction in pollution. The
agency is examining how much of the decline can
be attributed to better emission estimates by in-
dustry, as well as to other factors.
EPA released the first TRI figures, covering
1987 releases, a year ago. Since then, the public and
EPA have both used TRI information to support ac-
tions to protect the environment.
"The data pinpoints who's polluting, how much,
with what chemicals, and where," EPA Administrator
William K. Reilly said. "This knowledge is the first
step toward effective pollution control and preven-
tion."
The agency uses TRI information to strengthen
the regulation of toxic releases, to develop pollution
prevention programs, and to target inspection and
compliance activities.
The data are used by state lawmakers, in-
dividuals, communities, environmental groups, and
businesses as a catalyst to reduce pollution. For
example, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Oregon
have passed laws that require 50 percent reductions
in TRI emissions in some cases. Citizen groups
across the country have used TRI data to address
pollution problems at the local level, and many com-
panies are making commitments to reduce their
emissions of TRI chemicals.
How to get TRI data
• The national TRI database can be accessed from your personal
computer through the National Library of Medicine. For infor-
mation on obtaining an account or other assistance, call
1-800-272-4787 (301-496-6531 from Washington, D.C.,
Maryland, or Virginia) or write to TRI Representative, Specialist
Representative Services, National Library of Medicine, 8600
Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894.
•	Magnetic tapes of the entire TRI in ASCII format with tape
documentation are available for purchase from the National
Technical Information Service, U.S. Department of Commerce,
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22161; 703-487-4763.
Ordering Information
Format: ASCII, 1600 bpi
Price: $1,550 + $3 handling charge
Order #: BP90-502030
Format: ASCII, 6250 bpi
Price: $1,100 + $3 handling charge
Order #: PB90-502030
•	Magnetic tapes will also be available shortly from the U.S.
Government Printing Office, 710 North Capitol Street N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20401; 202-275-0186.
Ordering Information
Title: 1988 Toxic Release Inventory
Format: ASCII, 6250 bpi
Price: $500
•	Environmental release data for each state will be available
shortly for purchase in LOTUS 1-2-3 and dBASE III formats for
Apple Macintosh and IBM PC-compatible (MS-DOS) microcom-
puters from the National Technical Information Service and the
Government Printing Office.
•	The TRI report, The Toxics Release Inventory: A National
Perspective, 1988, will provide printed detailed TRI data sum-
maries and analyses. It will be distributed to all Federal
Depository Libraries late this summer and will be available for
purchase from the National Technical Information Service and
the Government Printing Office.
•	The TRI Reporting Center in Washington, D C., will make data
and reports from individual facilities available in its public
reading room and, on a limited basis, will conduct searches
and provide printouts on request. Write to Title III Reporting
Center, P.O. Box 70266, Washington, D C. 20004-0266 (Attn:
Public Inquiry).
TRI Hotline
For more information about TRI or the
law behind it, call EPA's Community Right-
to-Know Hotline at 1-800-535-0202. In
Washington, D.C., and Alaska, call 202-
479-2449. Or write to EPA Emergency
Planning and Community Right-to-Know
Hotline, U.S. EPA (OS-120), 401 M Street,
S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.
14
June 1990

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Comparative TRI Data on Toxic Chemical Releases

1987*
1988
Total TRI chemicals
5.01 billion pounds
4.57 billion pounds
Released into rivers, lakes, streams, and other bodies of water
0.4 billion pounds
0.36 billion pounds
Emitted into air
2.58 billion pounds
2.43 billion pounds
Disposed of in landfills
0.73 billion pounds
0.56 billion pounds
Injected into underground wells
1.3 billion pounds
1.22 billion pounds
Sent to off-site treatment and disposal facilities
1.96 billion pounds
1.67 billion pounds
'Under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Rlght-to-Know Act, certain manufacturing facilities are required to
report their annual emissions of 332 toxic chemicals and chemical categories. EPA received more than 80,000 reports from 19,762
facilities on 1988 releases. The 1987 data exclude aluminum oxide, sodium sulfate, sodium hydroxide, and melamlne, which were
reported that year but have since been taken off the list by petition. Data about the chemicals sent to off-site treatment and disposal
facilities are listed separately here, but are not Included in the figures shown for TRI chemicals released into the environment.
EPA Announces Recent
Enforcement Actions
On May 14, EPA and Worthen Industries, Inc.,
of Nashua, New Hampshire, entered into a consent
agreement that requires Worthen to pay a civil penal-
ty of $148,750 and to implement an annual educa-
tion program on the Toxic Substances Control Act
(TSCA) for its employees for at least five years. The
consent agreement settles a TSCA section 5 ad-
ministrative action against Worthen. The $148,750
civil penalty represents a 15 percent reduction in the
proposed penalty of $175,000; the downward adjust-
ment was made on the basis of Worthen's coopera-
tion and good faith in addressing the alleged
violations, negotiating the consent agreement, and
conducting the educational program.
Also on May 14, Ethox Chemicals agreed to pay
a $45,000 penalty as a result of violations of the
TSCA premanufacture and notice of commencement
requirements. Some of the violations were
documented during an inspection of Ethox by the
National Enforcement Investigations Center con-
ducted under the authority of TSCA, and the re-
mainder were disclosed by Ethox during the
proceeding.
To obtain copies of consent agreements and
complaints, please call Bessie Hammiel, hearing
clerk, at 202-382-4865.
National Human Adipose
Tissue Survey Available
The National Human Adipose Tissue Survey
(NHATS) is an annual survey to collect and analyze
a nationwide sample of human adipose tissue
specimens from autopsied cadavers and surgical pa-
tients. The purpose of the survey is to identify and
measure the prevalence and level of potentially toxic
chemicals in human adipose tissue.
From fiscal 1970 through fiscal 1981 and in
fiscal 1983, specimens were analyzed for 19
organochlorine pesticides and PCBs. For fiscal
1982, the list of target chemicals was expanded to
include volatile organic compounds, additional
semivolatile organic compounds beyond the 19
organochlorine pesticides and PCBs, and dioxins
and furans.
Single copies of the "NHATS Broad Scan
Analysis: Population Estimates from Fiscal Year
1982 Specimens," which estimates average concen-
trations of chemicals in the adipose tissue of the
general U.S. population, are available from the
TSCA Assistance Information Service (TS-799), U.S.
EPA, Washington, D.C. 20460 (phone,
202-554-1404; fax, 202-554-5603). Please refer to
the report's title and publication number, EPA
560/5-90-001, when requesting this document.
June 1990
15

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TSCA Inventory Update Reporting
Period to Begin in August
Use of Floppy Diskettes Allowed for First Time
The 1986 rule for Partial Updating of the TSCA
Inventory Data Base (40 CFR 710 Subpart B), also
known as the Inventory Update Rule, requires that
manufacturers and importers of substances on the
TSCA Inventory report current plant site, production
volume, and related data every four years. August
23, 1990, marks the beginning of a new reporting
period, which runs to December 23, 1990.
All substances included on the TSCA Inventory
are subject to the rule's reporting requirements, with
the exception of the following: polymers, inorganic
substances, microorganisms, and naturally occurr-
ing substances. Substances in these excluded
categories may remain reportable, however, if they
are subject to proposed or final rules or orders under
sections 4, 5(a)(2), 5(e), 5(f), 6, or 7 of TSCA.
Anyone who manufactured or imported 10,000
pounds or more of a reportable substance during the
company's most recent fiscal year is required to
report. Some persons are exempted from reporting,
such as certain small businesses and those who
manufacture or import under certain limited cir-
cumstances (e.g., small quantities for research and
development, nonisolated intermediates, for import
as part of an article).
EPA is amending the Inventory Update Rule to
allow reporting via floppy diskette and to revise the
reporting form to make it easier to complete (the
information to be reported will not change). Forms,
instructions, and other reporting materials will be
available from the agency in late July. At that time,
a Federal Register notice will be published revising
the rule and indicating how to obtain reporting
materials. Persons who reported in 1986 will
automatically be mailed reporting materials.
Would you like to receive the
Chemicals-in-Progress Bulletin?
The Chemicals-in-Progress Bulletin is published by
EPA's Office of Toxic Substances. To receive the
bulletin, please send your name, company/organira-
tion name, and address with zip code to
Environmental Assistance Division
U.S. EPA (TS-799)
401 M Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Editor: Jane Gurin
Environmental Assistance Division (TS-799)
Office of Pesticides & Toxic Substances
U.S.E.P.A.
Washington, D.C. 20460
Official Bualnaaa
Penalty for Private Use
$300
Flrat Claaa Mall
Poataga and Faaa Paid
EPA
Permit No. <3-35
THE CHEMICALS-IN-PROGRESS BULLETIN

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