The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a proposed rule aimed at safeguarding workers from inhalation exposure to C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29). This marks the eighth rule under the new Toxic Substances Control Act process, targeting potential lung damage risks associated with PV29 in its dry powder form.
Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, Michal Freedhoff, stated, “We can keep people safe from exposure to this toxic chemical with commonsense workplace safety measures.”
PV29 is utilized in various commercial and consumer applications, including pigments for watercolors and acrylic paints, merchant ink for commercial printing, as well as dyes for paints, coatings, plastics, and rubber products. Some of these applications are linked to the automobile industry and industrial carpeting production.
According to EPA's 2021 risk evaluation, PV29 poses an unreasonable health risk due to its potential lung toxicity effects that could impair oxygen delivery by the lungs. The proposed rule aims to implement protective measures where dry powder PV29 is present and poses an inhalation risk. However, once incorporated into paints or other materials, PV29 no longer retains harmful properties.
To mitigate these risks, EPA proposes establishing minimum respiratory protection requirements for workers handling dry powder PV29. Additionally, cleaning protocols for equipment and work areas where the chemical is used will be mandated. These protections would apply across several uses: incorporation into formulations in paints and coatings; plastic and rubber products; creation or adjustment of perylene pigments; use in automobile paints; coatings; basecoats; merchant ink for printing; domestic manufacturing; importation; recycling; and disposal.
The EPA invites public comments on the proposed rule within 45 days following its publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0277. The agency seeks feedback on the feasibility and effectiveness of these worker protection requirements from both individuals directly affected by them and other stakeholders.
