The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a proposed rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) on 1-bromopropane (1-BP), a solvent used in vapor degreasing.
However, 1-BP might still be allowed to be used in some industrial settings where proper safety protocols are taken.
1-BP is a solvent that is widely used in cleaning and degreasing operations, spray adhesives and dry cleaning. 1-BP is also used in insulation for building and construction materials and in the manufacture of other chemicals. Consumer uses of 1-BP include aerosol degreasers, spot cleaners, stain removers and insulation.
EPA is proposing to ban all consumer uses of this chemical except in insulation. The agency is proposing to ban some industrial and commercial uses of 1-BP for which EPA analysis identified safer alternatives. The ban on industrial and commercial uses would begin to go into effect six months after the final rule is published and would come fully into effect within 18 months. The industrial and commercial uses to be prohibited include:
- Dry cleaning, spot cleaning and stain removers.
- Adhesives and sealants.
- Coin and scissor cleaners.
- Automotive care products used as engine degreasers, brake cleaners and refrigerant flushes.
- Anti-adhesive agents used for mold cleaning and release products.
- Functional fluids used as refrigerants or cutting oils.
- Arts, crafts and hobby materials.
The proposed rule would also require worker protections for several industrial and commercial uses of 1-BP that would continue but which EPA has determined contribute to the unreasonable risk to human health that must be addressed, including its use in vapor and aerosol degreasing, electronics and electronic and metal products. To continue these uses, non-federal workplaces would need to implement a Workplace Chemical Protection Program, including an exposure limit, within 12 months.
EPA is also proposing to require the use of chemical-resistant gloves within six months for some uses for non-federal workplaces, including manufacturing, processing (which includes recycling) and disposal, to protect workers from exposures to 1-BP through the skin. Federal agencies (and federal contractors acting for or on behalf of the federal government) would be required to implement a Workplace Chemical Protection Program and use chemical-resistant gloves within three years.
Many workplaces already employ stringent controls to reduce exposures to 1-BP. For some workplaces, such as those using 1-BP in vapor degreasing, these existing controls may already sufficiently reduce exposure to meet the inhalation exposure concentration limit proposed in this rulemaking.
EPA encourages members of the public to read and comment on the proposed rule. EPA is especially interested in hearing perspectives on the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed requirements from entities that would be required to implement the proposed workplace protections, such as manufacturers, processors and users of 1-BP, as well as small quantity users, such as laboratories.
EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for 1-BP for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register. Members of the public may submit comments to docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0471 at the Regulations.gov page.
EPA will host a public webinar to provide an overview of the proposal on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Registration is available at the TSCA webinar page.
