SGS : EU – Second SVHC Consultation in 2017 on Nine Proposals by ECHA

SAFEGUARDS | Consumer Products NO. 148/17

On September 5, 2017, European Chemical Agency (ECHA) launched the second 2017 public consultation on nine potential Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) [1]. The Candidate List will expand to 182 if these proposals are accepted. Interested parties have until October 20, 2017 to submit comments and further information on use, exposure, alternatives and risks of the substances to ECHA.

The nine potential SVHC proposals

Nine SVHC proposals were published in the 2017 first consultation list, one being bisphenol A (BPA) which has been highly publicized. BPA has been included in the SVHC Candidate List based on its classification of Repr. 1B and its endocrine disrupting properties with serious effects to human health. The current proposal updates the reason for including BPA on the candidate list by adding endocrine disrupting properties with serious effects to environment.

Two SVHC proposals are benz[a]anthracene and chrysene, which are polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and are considered for inclusion due to their classification as Carc. 1B and their PBT and vPvB properties. They are not produced intentionally but occur together with other PAHs as constituent of coal and petroleum stream UVCB substances. Two PAHs benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and anthracene are already included on the Candidate List due to CMR, PBT and vPvB properties.

Three substances are cadmium compounds - cadmium nitrate, cadmium carbonate and cadmium hydroxide, which are proposed to be identified as SVHC candidates based on their classification as Carc. 1B, Muta. 1B and substances causing damage to kidney and bone after prolonged exposure (STOT RE 1). These cadmium compounds may be used as alternatives to each other and their wide range of potential uses include, but are not limited to, manufacture of electrical equipment, electronics, plastics, glass, ceramics and paper products.

Tricobalt tetraoxide is another inorganic compound on the consultation list for classification as Carc. 1A with ≥ 0.1% w/w nickel oxides as impurity. This substance has various uses such as pH regulator, manufacture of semiconductors, polymers, pigments, decoloring glass and coatings.

The remaining two substances are UVCBs, which are non-plasticizing flame retardant Dechlorane Plus and corrosion inhibitor, reaction products of 1,3,4-thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione, formaldehyde and 4-heptylphenol, branched and linear (RP-HP). Dechlorane Plus includes its anti- and syn- isomers or any combination thereof, and is considered to be vPvB. The application of Dechlorane Plus such as in plastics, cables, automobile parts, connectors, adhesives and binding agent. RP-HP is proposed to be identified as SVHC candidate for containing 0.1% w/w 4-heptylphenol, branched and linear (4-HPbl) as endocrine disruptors for the environment. 4-HPbl belongs to a group of structurally similar 4-alkylphenols and is already on the Candidate List for the same reason.

The potential uses of the nine potential SVHCs are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1. Possible uses of the potential SVHCs in the Consultation List published by ECHA on September 5, 2017

Abbreviations

Carc. 1A: Carcinogenicity category 1A

Carc. 1B: Carcinogenicity category 1B

CMR: Carcinogenic, mutagenic, and toxic for reproduction

ED: Endocrine disrupting properties

Muta. 1B: Germ cell mutagenicity category 1B

PBT: Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic

STOT RE 1: Specific target organ toxicity after repeated exposure

UVCBs: Substance of unknown or variable composition, complex reaction products or biological materials

vPvB: Very persistent and very bioaccumulative

NEXT STEP:

Comments and further information on use, exposure, alternatives and risks of the substances shall be submitted by October 20, 2017.

For enquiries, please contact:

Emily Lam
Corporate Research & Development
t: +852 2204 8339 ext.1339

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