Thank you to MaryAnn Hoff (PPG) and Andy Maier (Stantec) for their presentations at the event "The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in the Workplace" held on August 31, 2023 at PPG Industries located in Monroeville, PA.
Pittsburgh AIHA President-Elect, Barry Momyer (AM Health and Safety, Inc.) did the introductions and local section announcements for the group of 23 attendees (both in person and remote).
Thank you to Carol Delfino, CIH, CSP (Pgh. AIHA Secretary/Delfino Health & Safety) who provided the presentation summary below.
Reviewing New Chemicals Under the Toxic Substances Control Act:
The EPA reviews new chemicals under TSCA to ensure their safety and to protect human health and the environment. TSCA was updated in 2016 to provide the EPA with more comprehensive authority to evaluate and regulate chemicals. Their process for evaluating is summarized below (click the read more link):
Pittsburgh AIHA President-Elect, Barry Momyer (AM Health and Safety, Inc.) did the introductions and local section announcements for the group of 23 attendees (both in person and remote).
Thank you to Carol Delfino, CIH, CSP (Pgh. AIHA Secretary/Delfino Health & Safety) who provided the presentation summary below.
Reviewing New Chemicals Under the Toxic Substances Control Act:
The EPA reviews new chemicals under TSCA to ensure their safety and to protect human health and the environment. TSCA was updated in 2016 to provide the EPA with more comprehensive authority to evaluate and regulate chemicals. Their process for evaluating is summarized below (click the read more link):
Companies or individuals planning to manufacture or import a new chemical substance must submit a Pre-Manufacture Notice (PMN) to the EPA. This notice must include chemical identity, intended use, and potential health and environment effects. EPA reviews and conducts a comprehensive risk assessment to determine whether the new chemical poses unreasonable risk to human health and the environment. These assessments include modeling tools. IH’s are going to need modeling tools, such as IHMod. The EPA uses ChemSteer. EPA manages the risk based on findings and may take actions that can include lowering the risk by setting an EPA ECEL(Environmental Control Exposure Level) which in many cases is far lower than the PEL. These levels are so low they are very close or lower than laboratory detection levels.
The SACC, Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals established under TSCA provides scientific advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA on issues related to chemical risk.
In summary, the ECELs and the PELs differ greatly.
PELs focus on legally enforceable limits on workplace exposure to hazardous chemicals to protect workers.
EPA ECEL’s are non-binding guidelines used for assessing and managing environmental risks associated with chemical releases to protect the broader environment and public health. Two different standards administered by two different agencies.
The EPS’s new involvement may change how we do things. How this is enforced is yet to be seen.
Thanks to the following Pgh. AIHA members/guests who participated in the event:
The SACC, Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals established under TSCA provides scientific advice, information, and recommendations to the EPA on issues related to chemical risk.
In summary, the ECELs and the PELs differ greatly.
PELs focus on legally enforceable limits on workplace exposure to hazardous chemicals to protect workers.
EPA ECEL’s are non-binding guidelines used for assessing and managing environmental risks associated with chemical releases to protect the broader environment and public health. Two different standards administered by two different agencies.
The EPS’s new involvement may change how we do things. How this is enforced is yet to be seen.
Thanks to the following Pgh. AIHA members/guests who participated in the event:
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