EPA Proposes Significant New Use Rule for 14 Glymes
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a proposed rule for a significant new use rule (SNUR) under section 5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 14 glymes. This action would require persons who intend to manufacture, import, or process these chemical substances for an activity that is designated as a significant new use by this proposed rule to notify EPA at least 90 days before commencing that activity.
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Comments are due by September 12, 2011.
Proposes to Exclude 12 Glymes from Certain Consumer Uses, 2 from Any Uses
EPA is concerned about the reproductive and/or developmental toxicity of monoglyme, diglyme, and ethylglyme and believes that individuals could suffer adverse effects from their use. In addition, EPA has concerns about the remaining 11 glymes due to the lack of available use, exposure, and toxicity information.
Therefore, EPA is proposing to make the following 14 chemical substances subject to the SNUR based on similarities in the molecular structures, physical and chemical properties, uses, etc.
| Chemical | Proposed Excluded Consumer Uses |
| Monoglyme | In electrolyte solutions for sealed lithium batteries |
| Diglyme | In printing inks |
| Ethyldiglyme | None |
| Triglyme | In adhesives, brake fluids, paint/graffiti removers, and paints |
| Butyldiglyme | None |
| Tetraethylene glycol dibutyl ether | None |
| Tetraglyme | As an HFC/CFC lubricant, solubilizing agent for printing inks, a coalescing agent in paints |
| Ethylglyme | None |
| Tetraethylene glycol diethyl ether | None |
| Pentaethylene glycol diethyl ether | None |
| Polyglyme | Use in paint strippers |
| Polyethylene glycol dibutyl ether | None |
| Pentaethylene glycol dibutyl ether | Any use |
| Butyltriglyme | Any use |
(See proposed rule for the glymes' Chemical Abstract Services Register Number (CASRN) and additional information.)
Comments also Sought on any Unconfirmed Consumer or Industrial Uses
EPA is also requesting public comment on whether there are any additional unconfirmed ongoing uses, consumer or industrial, of these 14 glymes, such as for use in fabrics, textiles, and apparel; to treat aluminum surfaces; as a component in brake fluid, paints, coatings; use in adhesive removers; use in the production of gel laundry detergents, etc.
EPA's press release on this proposed rule is available here.