Last week EPA released their final risk evaluation on formaldehyde as a part of the Toxics Substances Control Act (TSCA). Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde | US EPA
This process started nearly seven years ago with extensive input from associated industries. The Composite Wood Products and Chemical Industry argued that the rule would be redundant if it included Composite Wood Products (CWP’s) as specific regulations on emissions limitations were included in the 2010 TSCA Title VI.
In the voluminous FR notice last week “…EPA did not identify risk from the general population [from] long-term inhalation exposure to indoor air from wood articles that would contribute to the unreasonable risk of formaldehyde. This includes wood articles and composite wood products that are regulated pursuant to TSCA Title VI.” This is a major win for the CWP industry.
See page 16 of the Unreasonable Risk Determination of the Risk Evaluation for Formaldehyde.
The Risk Evaluation, eliminates from further regulation under TSCA residential and commercial indoor air exposures from composite wood panels and products made from them.
EPA is granted the authority to identify occupational exposures to formaldehyde in the workplace. The preliminary Risk Evaluation identified 11 parts per billion (“ppb”) as an unreasonable risk level. EPA’s new evaluation sets levels of 110 ppb and 170 ppb depending on the end point evaluated. This compares to the recently enacted 300 ppb level in Europe and the current OSHA level of 750 ppb. These extremely low thresholds are not based on the best available science.
In the Risk Management phase (proposal to be released by the end of this year) will address the occupational exposure level. KCMA is working through its partnership with the Composite Panel Association to educate the new EPA officials on this important issue.
