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ENVIRONMENTALLY HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS IN PRODUCTS

Enviropass offers products assessment, testing, consultation, and training services regarding the management of environmentally hazardous chemicals in products:

We will recommend the best testing option depending on the complexity and the materials under investigation:

  • Analytical testing. Enviropass offers very competitive prices through a network of ISO 17025-certified laboratories. Our deliverables are chemistry testing reports, interpretation, certificates of conformity, or corrective action plans.
  • Documentary review. Enviropass works with your supply chain and follows the highest standards, like IEC 63000.
  • Auditing of your technical file, procedures, and substance control measures.
Laboratory Enviropass

What are these Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals in Products?

Chemicals use in products Enviropass

Chemicals are everywhere. Many occur naturally, but many synthetic substances area also found everywhere, from everyday products to the most complex professional devices.

Because of their properties, chemicals enable the design, development, and sale of the most astonishing technologies. These chemicals are plasticizers, hardeners, stabilizers, curing agents, flame retardants, pigments, lubricants, solvents, diluents, catalysts, etc.

Despite their valuable intrinsic benefits, scientists know or suspect that some of these hazardous substances are harmful to the environment and human health; hence public awareness and chemical regulations for various products.

Examples of Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals in Products and their Dangers

Here are some of the common harmful chemicals with their associated hazards:

Confirmed of suspected Hazard

Substance Name

Use

Carcinogen

Cadmium carbonate

Fungicides

Mutagenic

Potassium dichromate

Pigments

Reprotoxic

Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP)

Plasticizer

Persistent and bioaccumulative

Alkanes, C10-13, chloro (Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins, SCCPs)

Flame retardant in rubber and plastics

Endocrine disruptor

Dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)

Plasticizer

Regulations to Control Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals in Products

As a result, governmental agencies worldwide develop sets of regulations to prohibit, restrict, and monitor the use of certain hazardous substances in some products or applications:

RoHS

This acronym stands for Restriction of the Use Of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment. RoHS is a set of guidelines developed to make products safer, and it is a cornerstone of the Enviropass method.

REACH, SVHC, and the SCIP Database

EU REACH regulations include an obligation to declare Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). In the European Union, producers must report the SVHCs contained in their products via the SCIP database. The REACH Annex XVII has also listed certain prohibited or restricted substances.

Persistent Organic Pollutants - Halogens

The POP regulation restricts the use of brominated and chlorinated materials.
RoHS Regulations of Chemicals

TSCA Compliance in Articles

Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the US Environmental Protection Agency restricts the import and use of certain hazardous chemicals in products. In-scope chemicals include persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) substances, such as the PIP (3:1) plasticizer. TSCA also rules perfluoro- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) like PFOA, which are present in various products, like coating applications in electronics.

Warning label of chemicals in products

California Proposition 65 and Chemical Label

Proposition 65 warnings apply to products introduced into the Californian market that contain chemical(s) known to the State of California to cause cancer, reproductive issues, and other reproductive harm.

Biocides

Biocidal products regulation (BPR) must be registered and labeled accordingly.

Medical Devices

The medical devices regulation (MDR) also includes restrictions and labeling obligations for specific substances.

End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV)

Similar to the RoHS regulation, the ELV Directive specifically applies to automotive products.

IMDS and GADSL

The International Material Data System applicable (IMDS) to the automotive industry allows the communication of materials and hazardous product chemicals. Similarly, the Global Automotive Declarable Substance List (GADSL) lists many banned, restricted, and declarable substances.

Batteries and Packaging

Batteries and packaging items require specific restrictions on heavy metals.

Safety Data Sheets

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) must contain specific information about chemicals, including:
  • hazard identification;
  • composition/information ingredients;
  • first aid measures;
  • fire-fighting measures; 
  • accidental release measures; 
  • handling and storage precautions;
  • exposure controls/personal protection equipment;
  • physical and chemical properties;
  • stability and reactivity;
  • toxicological information;
  • ecological information;
  • disposal considerations;
  • transport information; and
  • regulatory information.
Safety Data Sheets Chemicals Information

If your products contain regulated substances, or if you have supply chain questions, contact Enviropass and talk to our team about moving forward.