TAGS: Sustainability / Natural Coatings
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes the list of ten scientific experts. They are selected to review the 2023 Draft Risk Evaluation for Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).
The announcement follows a call for nominations of scientific and technical experts for the letter peer review issued in September 2023. It also follows a call for public comments on the expert candidates in December 2023.
Used in Paints & Coatings
EPA will hold a virtual public meeting on March 5, 2024. It is to review the documents and draft charge questions being posed to the reviewers. The experts will address any questions from reviewers and the public regarding the scope and clarity of the questions. The meeting also gives the public the opportunity to ask questions about the documents with the letter peer reviewers present.
Registration is to be done by March 1, 2024, to attend the meeting. The letter peer review is expected to begin on March 13, 2024.
EPA released the TCEP draft risk evaluation for public comment in December 2023. TCEP is a chemical historically used in paints and coatings, fabrics and textiles. It can be also used in aerospace applications, foam seating and construction materials. It is also found in a range of goods that are imported into the U.S.
The production of TCEP has decreased in the U.S. by about 99 percent since 2014. But it is still used in the U.S. to make some paints and coatings. It is also used as a flame retardant and plasticizer for specific aerospace applications. TCEP has been linked to kidney cancer, reproductive, neurological, developmental and kidney effects.
EPA’s draft risk evaluation found unreasonable risk from breathing or ingesting TCEP. This TCEP came out of textiles or other products and gets into indoor air. EPA flagged potential health concerns for infants and children frequently mouthing products containing foam, textiles and wood. They might contain TCEP. This may prove to be conservative assumptions that do not reflect real-world exposures.
Unreasonable Risk for Fish Eating People
TCEP can also accumulate in fish if they live in a stream or other waterbody with high concentrations of TCEP. EPA found unreasonable risk for people eating fish taken from TCEP-contaminated water. These concerns are particularly notable for groups that eat higher quantities of fish. This includes subsistence fishers and Tribes.
Another subpopulation EPA included in its evaluation was infants exposed through human milk (e.g. breastfeeding). EPA found that infants were at less risk than their mothers. EPA also found that TCEP presents unreasonable risk to the environment. It is specifically risky to aquatic organisms chronically exposed to TCEP through surface water and sediment.
EPA is using a letter peer review to obtain comments on the TCEP draft risk evaluation. When EPA undertakes a letter peer review, it takes steps to ensure that letter peer reviewers only provide comments as individuals without consultation or conversation with other reviewers because such consultations or conversations could be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
Goal to Obtain Balance Perspectives Based on Experiences
The final selection of the reviewers depended upon the scientific expertise needed to address the letter peer review charge and obtaining a breadth and balance of different scientific viewpoints across the individual reviewers. EPA’s goal is to seek and obtain a balance of professional and scientific perspectives based on academic, clinical, industrial, and consulting (e.g., expert testimony) experiences.
Candidates were asked to submit confidential financial information (EPA Form 3110-48, Confidential Financial Disclosure Form) and fully disclose, among other financial interests, the candidate's employment, stocks and bonds, and where applicable, sources of research support.
EPA evaluated the candidates' financial disclosure forms to assess whether there are financial conflicts of interest, appearance of a loss of impartiality, or any prior involvement with the development of the documents under consideration (including previous scientific peer review) before selecting the candidates.
Source: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)