TAGS: PVC, Plasticizers and Sustainability Flame Retardants
ECHA collected, as requested by the European Commission, information on the potential risks of PVC additives and PVC itself to human health and the environment.
It also considered possible alternatives and assessed the societal impacts of potential risk management measures. The investigation focused on 63 PVC additives, including plasticizers, heat stabilizers and flame retardants.
Contributes to Objectives of EU’s Plastics Strategy
ECHA’s investigation supports the European Commission in determining how potential risks from
PVC additives and
PVC could be controlled. The work contributes to the objectives of the EU’s Plastics Strategy and the EU’s commitment to reduce plastic pollution under the United Nation’s Environment Program (UNEP).
The key findings suggest that regulatory action would be needed:
- to minimize risks associated with plasticizers, particularly certain ortho-phthalates, which are harmful to reproduction,
- to minimize risks from heat stabilizing organotin, such as DOTE, which may cause developmental malformations and reproductive harm,
- to reduce emissions of flame retardants as suggested in ECHA’s Regulatory Strategy for Flame Retardants,
- to implement and improve technologies that minimize PVC microparticle emissions especially at recycling facilities and landfills. The release of PVC microparticles contributes to plastic pollution. These microparticles also contain harmful additives, and therefore, minimizing their releases would consequently reduce emissions of these additives.
The risks from
PVC resin to workers and the environment are considered adequately controlled with the current operational conditions and companies’ safety measures. This conclusion followed an analysis of the materials used in making
PVC resin, the production process, waste disposal and exposure to
PVC dust.
ECHA’s investigation has now been sent to the European Commission, which will assess it and decide whether there is a need to formally ask ECHA to prepare a REACH restriction proposal.
Source: European Chemical Agency (ECHA)