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ECHA Announces New Public Consultation on Eight Potential Substances of Very High Concern
Today the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposed to identify eight chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHC) and possible candidates for authorization under the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation. The detailed proposals are available on the ECHA website online. Comments are due April 22, 2010.
Potential Additions to the SVHC Listing
Denmark, France, and Germany proposed identifying eight substances as SVHCs. ECHA requests comments focusing primarily on the hazardous properties that qualify the substances as SVHC. Interested parties may also provide comments and further information on the uses, exposures, and availability of safer alternative substances or techniques. ECHA notes that commenters should be aware that these aspects will mainly be considered at the next stage of the process, i.e., the selection of substances for authorization, which will include a new round of public consultation.
ECHA’s Member State Committee will review the comments when seeking an agreement on the identification as SVHC before ECHA includes these substances on the Candidate List, from which substances are selected for authorization. Substances that appear on the Authorization List can, after a transition period, only be used if a specific authorization is granted.
There are currently 29 substances identified on the Candidate List. Inclusion on the Candidate List will require suppliers of preparations and articles containing the substances to provide additional information requirements.
According to ECHA, all eight substances are proposed because of their potentially serious effects on human health (carcinogenic, mutagenic, and/or toxic for reproduction). The names of the substances, the reasons for their proposal as SVHC, and their potential uses are provided in the table below:
| Substance name | EC number | CAS number | Proposed SVHC property | Potential uses |
| Trichloroethylene | 204-167-4 | 79-01-6 | Carcinogenic category 2 | Cleaning and degreasing ofmetal parts Solvent in adhesives Intermediate in the manufacture of chlorinated and fluorinated organic compounds |
| Boric acid | 233-139-2 234-343-4 | 10043-35-3 11113-50-1 | Toxic for reproduction category 2 | Uses include a multitude of applications, e.g., in biocides and preservatives, personal care products, food additives, glass, ceramics, rubber, fertilizers, flame retardants, paints, industrial fluids, brake fluids, soldering products, film developers |
| Disodium tetraborate, anhydrous | 215-540-4 | 1330-43-4 12179-04-3 1303-96-4 | Toxic for reproduction category 2 | Uses include a multitude of applications, e.g., in glass and glass fibers, ceramics, detergents and cleaners, personal care products, industrial fluids, metallurgy, adhesives, flame retardants, biocides, fertilizers |
| Tetraboron disodium heptaoxide, hydrate | 235-541-3 | 12267-73-1 | Toxic for reproduction category 2 | Uses include a multitude of applications, e.g., in glass and glass fibers, ceramics, detergents and cleaners, personal care products, industrial fluids, metallurgy, adhesives, flame retardants, biocides, fertilizers |
| Sodium chromate | 231-889-5 | 7775-11-3 | Carcinogenic category 2; mutagenic category 2; toxic for reproduction category 2 | Laboratory (analytical agent) Manufacture of other chromium compounds |
| Potassium chromate | 232-140-5 | 7789-00-6 | Carcinogenic category 2; mutagenic category 2 | Treatment and coating of metals Manufacture of reagents and chemicals Manufacture of textiles Coloring agent in ceramics Tanning and dressing of leather Manufacture of pigments/inks Laboratory (analytical) Pyrotechnics |
| Ammonium dichromate | 232-143-1 | 7789-09-5 | Carcinogenic category 2; mutagenic category 2; toxic for reproduction category 2 | Oxidizing agent Laboratory (analytical agent) Tanning of leather Manufacture of textiles Manufacture of photosensitive screens (cathode ray tubes) Metal treatment |
| Potassium dichromate | 231-906-6 | 7778-50-9 | Carcinogenic category 2; mutagenic category 2; toxic for reproduction category 2 | Chrome metal manufacturing Treatment and coating of metals Manufacture of reagents and chemicals Laboratory (analytical agent) Cleaning of laboratory glassware Tanning of leather Manufacture of textiles Photolithography Wood treatment Corrosion inhibitor in cooling systems |