Asbestos, Dry Cleaning Agent Among 10 Chemicals Under Review 25 October 2017, by the Associated Press

Asbestos, dry cleaning agent among 10 chemicals under review 25 October 2017, by The Associated Press

laboratory chemical, in adhesives and sealants and residual amounts in some consumer products. Hazard: possible human carcinogen.

—1-Bromopropane . Uses: solvent in spray adhesives and dry cleaning, foam cushion manufacturing, lubricant, refrigerant and as a degreaser. Hazard: possible human carcinogen, neurotoxicity, reproductive problems and lung cancer.

—Asbestos . Uses: insulation, coatings and compounds, plastics, roofing products, chlor-alkali production, consumer products and other applications. Also found in certain imported In this July 12, 2017, photo, Asbestos Removal products such as brakes, friction products, gaskets, Technologies Inc., superintendent Ryan Laitila, right, packing materials and building materials. Hazard: sprays amended water, as job forman Megan Eberhart known human carcinogen; acute and chronic bags ceiling material during asbestos abatement in toxicity from inhalation. Howell, Mich. Spurred by the chemical industry, President Donald Trump's administration is retreating —Carbon Tetrachloride . Uses: petrochemical from a congressionally mandated review of some of the manufacturing, degreasing and cleaning, most dangerous chemicals in public use. The review began under Trump's predecessor to make sure proper adhesives, sealants, paints, coatings, rubber, safeguards are in place for asbestos and other toxins in cement and asphalt formulation. Hazard: probable homes, offices and industrial plants across the United human carcinogen. States. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) —Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster (HBCD). Uses: Flame retardant in extruded polystyrene foam for insulation, textiles, and electrical and electronic Under a congressional mandate, the U.S. appliances. Hazard: toxic to aquatic organisms; Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing 10 potential reproductive, developmental and chemicals to determine if they pose an neurological effects in humans. unreasonable risk to human health or the environment and should be subject to additional —Methylene Chloride . Uses: paint stripping, regulation. They range from asbestos, which was adhesives, pharmaceutical manufacturing, metal widely used for decades in products including cleaning, aerosol solvents, chemical processing, insulation and roofing materials, to the dry cleaning flexible polyurethane foam manufacturing, and chemical PCE. miscellaneous other uses. Hazard: probable human carcinogen. Here's a look at what the 10 chemicals are used for and the hazards they pose to human health and —N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Uses: about 184 the environment: million pounds (83 million kilograms) annually in petrochemical processing, plastics, coatings (i.e., —1,4-Dioxane . Uses: chemicals manufacturing, resins, paints, finishes, inks and enamels),

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electronics and other chemical manufacturing, paint removal, and industrial and consumer cleaning, paint removal products, auto care products, home cleaning products, and arts and craft materials. Hazard: reproductive toxicity.

—Pigment Violet 29 . Uses: automotive paints, watercolor and acrylic paints, carpeting, inks, cleaning agents, pharmaceuticals, solar cells, paper, architectural uses, polyester fibers, sporting goods, appliances, agricultural equipment and oil and gas pipelines. Estimated to have moderate releases to the environment. Hazard: toxic to aquatic organisms.

—Trichloroethylene (TCE). Uses: about 250 million pounds (113 million kilograms) per year in manufacturing for refrigerant chemicals, consumer products including as a degreasing solvent and as a spotting agent in dry cleaning. Uses: consumer products. Hazard: probable human carcinogen, can affect developing fetuses, respiratory irritant.

—Tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene or PCE). Uses: a solvent used in a wide range of industrial, commercial and industrial applications including in dry cleaning, automotive products, cleaning and furniture care, lubricants, sealants, adhesives, paints and coatings. Hazard: probable human carcinogen.

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

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