European Chemicals Agency Seeks Info on 2 Substances of Very High Concern
The European Chemicals Agency is seeking information on the uses and releases of two substances of very high concern - 2,4-dinitrotoluene and lead chromate - which are currently on the European Union’s REACHCandidate List.1
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Comments are due by May 28, 2010.
Info Sought on Market Availability, Uses, Releases, Exposures
Specifically, ECHA is seeking up-to-date information on the actual volumes available on the European market as well as on the uses, releases and exposures of:
- 2,4-dinitrotoluene, both in relation to the pure substance (EC Number: 204-450-0, CAS Number: 121-14-2) and technical grade dinitrotoluene (which is normally a mixture of dinitrotoluene isomers under EC Number: 246-836-1, and CAS Number: 25321-14-6); and
- lead chromate (EC Number 231-846-0, CAS Number: 7758-97-6). The study will not focus on lead sulfochromate yellow (EC Number: 215-693-7, CAS Number: 1344-37-2) which occasionally is (incorrectly) referred to as ‘lead chromate’.
Substances Being Considered for REACH Authorization
ECHA states that the information is needed to help ECHA determine whether these substances should be subject to REACH authorization. If subjected to REACH authorization, the substances would be considered of such concern that they could not be placed on the market or used within the EU, except when authorized.
1REACH entered into force on June 1, 2007, and is intended to streamline and improve the former legislative framework on chemicals of the EU. It stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals and places greater responsibility on industry to manage the risks that chemicals may pose to health and the environment. Substances that get placed on the REACH “Candidate List” face immediate notification requirements by companies using them and may be subjected to REACH authorization.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 01/19/10 news, 10011930, for BP summary of the two substances and 12 others being added to the EU’s Candidate List.)
ECHA notice, dated 05/12/10, available at http://echa.europa.eu/doc/press/na_10_23_authorisation_of_two_substances_en_20100512.pdf
Questionnaire on the substances available at http://www.rpaltd.co.uk/news-dnt.shtml