Environmental organizations issue criticism of Federal government for refusal to phase out cancer causing substances

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1 September 3, 2008 Immediate release Environmental organizations issue criticism of Federal government for refusal to phase out cancer causing substances Toronto Environmental organizations including the Canadian Environmental Law Association and Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba filed comments today with the federal government strongly criticizing the government s proposed approach to manage cancer causing substances found to be toxic under federal law. The government proposals lack elimination and prevention strategies on cancer causing substances and other toxic substances. The government proposal to manage some of the worst chemicals in commerce in Canada is extremely weak, stated Fe de Leon, researcher with the Canadian Environmental Law Association. These chemicals, the subject of comments due today under a federal consultation, are the worst of the worst. These are the chemicals that need the strongest possible controls by Canada. Examples of high priority substances which were reviewed under a federal science-based process, and their current uses include: naphthalene - used in driveway sealants, petroleum sector, paints, stains, coatings, wig glue, moth balls, catechol - used in photographic developer, antioxidants in electroplating baths, and a waste in the black liquor from pulp mills that may be spread on roads hydroquinone - used in manicure preparations and hair dyes, paints, varnishes, motor oil and fuels, propylene oxide - used in production of polyether polyols for polyurethane foam, food fumigant and food packaging, air craft de-icers, textile and plastic industries, strippers, and isomers of toluene diisocyanate (TDI) - used in production of polyurethane foam for pillows, mattresses, etc., as well as sealant, textile application (For more information, see Backgrounder) For the 9 substances that the Federal government has assessed as being toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the government proposes only to require that industry interested in new uses notify the government of these uses. For other toxic substances, the government has simply proposed regulations that focus on reducing the releases of these toxic substances to the environment. No health prevention actions have been proposed. The federal government proposals to manage these chemicals are neither preventive nor protective for Canadians, states Fe de Leon. Canadians will continue to be exposed to cancer causing substances in the everyday products we use, in our food, in our air and in our water. We are giving industry a free pass to continue with business as usual. When Canada completed its leading edge categorization process in September 2006 to identify substances for priority assessments, environmental organizations had high expectations that the 1

2 government would follow-up with stringent regulatory action. The Chemicals Management Plan released in December 2006 to outline the government s plan on toxic substances was received by the health and environmental community with skepticism and a glimmer of hope. The groups now doubt that the plan will make any meaningful difference in protecting our health and the environment. We are especially upset with the government continuing to allow carcinogens as food additives and in paper, especially food packaging, said Delores Broten of Reach for Unbleached. All the risk management science in the world isn t going to change the fact that it is an unnecessary risk to people, and to all the critters in the environment which are exposed to the waste through garbage and sludge. Why are we allowing this? What is needed instead is a truly preventive approach for these highly hazardous chemicals. The science suggests that a phase out and preventive strategy for these substance is appropriate. The government should be aiming to eliminate all uses for these chemicals. Safer alternatives are available and the serious ongoing health and environmental risks from their continued use is completely unnecessary, stated Sandra Madray, Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba For more information, contact: Fe de Leon, Canadian Environmental Law Association, ext. 223 Sandra Madray, Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba, Delores Broten, Reach for Unbleached, Anna Tilman, STORM Coalition, See comments on assessment results, visit: Also visit: Government assessment and management documents at ; and Non-governmental organization reports at 2

3 Backgrounder In December 2006, the government released its Chemicals Management Plan in which two hundred substances were identified as high priority for the government. These substances are the worst of the worst they either have various health impacts such as being carcinogens, and / or are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic in the environment. The government completed its assessments of the first set of 15 priority substances and released its management proposals for public comments in July Public comments on the final assessment decisions and proposed management options are due September 3, Below is a list of substances found to be toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Substance CAS no. Quantity in Canada (import or manufactured) Oxirane, methyl- (Methyloxirane), (propylene oxide) Imports from the United States (quantity unavailable) Selected uses and applications monomer in polymer production of polyether polyols which are used in the production on polyurethane foams for furniture and automotive industries. manufacture of propylene glycol, starch modifying agent in food, potential food contact application, resins, inks, synthetic lubricants, automotive industry as detergent additive, corrosion inhibitor in motor fuels, gasket removers, cleaners, petroleum deformers, fuel additives, adhesives, used in textile and plastic industries, pharmaceuticals, aircraft de-icers, glycol ethers (solvents in paints and varnish), paint strippers, fumigation of dried fruit products and bulk quantities of food products (cocoa, spices, processed nutmeat), food additive with limited uses, preservative substance (antimicrobial) 3

4 Oxirane, ethyl-, (ethyloxirane), Benzene, 2,4- diisocyanato-1- methyl- (2,4- TDI), and Benzene, 1,3- diisocyanato-2- methyl- (2,6- TDI), Benzene, 1,3- diisocyanatomet hyl- (TDI mixed isomers), , ,000 kg stabilizer in industrial solvents that are used for vapour degreasing and ultrasounding and cleaning solvent, secondary cleaning for semiconductor industry, production of pharmaceuticals, coating industry, stablizer in the production of n-propyl bromide dry cleaning solvents (alternatives to dry cleaning solvents, available in Canada), chemical intermediate, acid scavenger for chlorine containing materials, corrosion inhibitor, secondary cleaner in semiconductor industry, electric degreaser 10 million kg manufacture of speciality elastomer application manufacture of flexible polyurethane foam (PUF) (86% of TDI used for this purpose), flexible PUF used in household furitures and automotive upholstery and in mattresses, pillows, packaging and carpet underlay, semi-fledximate and semi-rigid PUF used in automotive panel, padding, and bumpers, TDI and TDI derivatives used in polyurethane modified alkyd paints and coatings, (automotive and marine paints, wood varnish, floor treatment, wire and powder coating, TDI and TDI derivatives used in sealants, adhesives and elastomers Poly(urethane urea)-cast elastomers based on TDI used in wheels, rollers and conveyors, production of coatings for textiles for durability and waterproofing and other textile application, paper production, biomedical application but not in Canada Naphthalene ,000,000 kg Petroleum sector (oil chemical solvent, Refinery cleaner, Fuel additive, Feedstock) Non-petroleum sector: solvent and intermediate in automotive paint manufacturing sector, driveway sealant, pest control products (moth balls), agriculture and construction products, chemical intermediate for pharmaceutical products, consumer products paints, stains and coatings, cosmetic products such as wig glue, 4

5 1,2-Benzenediol (1,2- benzenediol),(catechol) 1,4-Benzenediol (1,4- benzenediol), (Hydroquinone) Propanedinitrile, [[4-[[2- (4- cyclohexylphenoxy)ethyl] ethylamino]-2- methylphenyl]methylene]- (CHPD) ,000,000-10,000,000 kg CAS No ,000-1,000,000 kg photographic developer, laboratory reagent for raw material testing in the pharmaceutical industry, antioxidant in electroplating baths, cosmetic products (used in past as oxidizing agent in hair colorants and an antioxidants for perfumes and essential oils), other historical uses include: developer of fur dyes, intermediate for antioxidants in rubber and lubricating oils, in polymerization inhibitors, and in pharmaceuticals, reagent in the synthesis of adhesives, in fax papers, and in specialty inks polymerization inhibitor in unsaturated polyester and methylmethacrylate resin monomer, stabilizer in colorants and various types of industrial and consumer adhesives, thread lockers and thread sealants, additive to heat shrink tubing, restorative paste, bonding tape, film tape, liquid bandages, performance additive in sheetfeed printing and heatset inks, reducing agent in photographic developing solutions, consumer products manicure preparations and hair dyes, natural health products, hydroquinone topical preparations available through pharmacists, pest control products, chemical intermediate in the synthesis of different chemicals antioxidants and antiozonants used in rubber processing, antioxidants in industrial fats, oils and foods, stabilizer in paints, varnishes, motor oils and fuels, photographic industry for black and white film and hospital X-rays and lithography, casting compounds, corrosion inhibitors in boilers and cooling towers kg colourant, pigment, stain, dye, ink used in manufacturing synthetic organic and inorganic dyes, pigments, lakes and toners, dyeing many types of plastics which may be used in manufactured items (in Europe), used in textiles (in the United States) Source: Various Screening Assessment Reports referenced in Canada Gazette Notice Part 1, Vol. 142, No. 27 (July 5, 2008) 5

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