TSCA Draft Risk Evaluation Available for Ethylene Dibromide

EPA recently published a draft risk evaluation for the chemical ethylene dibromide, a substance used as a fuel additive in leaded aviation fuel. 

The draft risk evaluation finds that 10 uses of ethylene dibromide pose an unreasonable risk to workers and occupational non-users from inhalation and/or dermal exposure. No unreasonable risk to consumers, the general population, or the environment.

The 10 “conditions of use” contributing to the unreasonable risk for workers and/or occupational non-users are: 

• Manufacturing/import 
• Processing fuels and fuel additives in petroleum/coal products manufacturing
• Processing fuels and fuel additives in petroleum refineries 
• Processing in manufacturing of pigments, dyes, plastic material and resin
• Processing (Repackaging) 
• Industrial use as a processing aid in pigment and dye manufacturing 
• Industrial use as fuel agent in petroleum refineries  
• Commercial use in fuel and related products
• Commercial use as a laboratory chemical
• Disposal 

In announcing the draft risk evaluation EPA stresses that the evaluation focused on ethylene dibromide itself, and not on aviation fuel or “avgas” containing the chemical. EPA is evaluating the risks of avgas in the environment separately. (e.g., groundwater contamination). 

What’s Next?

Because the risk evaluation identified 10 occupational uses that contribute to an “unreasonable risk” to human health for workers and/or occupational non-users or ONUs, the law mandates that EPA develop regulatory requirements to address the risk posed by these conditions of use. New risk management requirements (under TSCA) can include standards for respirator use, chemical reporting responsibilities, and restrictions or “bans” on activities involving the chemical.