Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) on July 31, aimed at protecting public health by regulating the use of 1-bromopropane (1-BP). This chemical has been linked to serious health effects, including various cancers and damage to vital organs and reproductive systems. If finalized, the rule would ban all but one consumer use of 1-BP and some workplace uses.
The proposal includes worker protections for industrial and commercial uses that are not banned, aligning with President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. This marks the seventh existing chemical addressed under TSCA section 6(a) since its amendment in 2016.
“The science shows that 1-BP can cause cancer and other serious health problems, and today’s action is an important step to use the power of our nation’s chemical safety law to finally protect people from this dangerous chemical and prevent cancer-causing exposure,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “Our proposal would end all unsafe consumer exposures from this chemical and put strict protections in place for workers to ensure critical uses can continue safely.”
1-BP is commonly used in cleaning operations, spray adhesives, dry cleaning, insulation materials, and manufacturing other chemicals. Consumer products containing 1-BP include aerosol degreasers, spot cleaners, stain removers, and insulation.
The EPA's proposal aims to eliminate consumer exposure to 1-BP except for its use in insulation within six months after finalizing the rule. Industrial bans will also be phased in over a period extending up to 18 months post-publication.
Prohibited industrial uses include:
- Dry cleaning
- Spot cleaning
- Stain removers
- Adhesives
- Sealants
- Coin cleaners
- Scissor cleaners
- Automotive care products like engine degreasers
Worker protections will require non-federal workplaces using certain applications of 1-BP to implement a Workplace Chemical Protection Program within twelve months. This includes an exposure limit along with mandatory use of chemical-resistant gloves within six months for specific tasks such as manufacturing or disposal processes. Federal agencies have three years to comply with these requirements.
Public comments on the proposed rule will be accepted for 45 days following its publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0471 at Regulations.gov. The EPA will host a public webinar on August 28, providing an overview of the proposal.
