Environmental Working Group released the following statement today in response to EPA’s decision to fast track review of five persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals, or PBTs. This action is required by the agency after passage earlier this year of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act.
The statement is from EWG’s legislative attorney, Melanie Benesh:
Persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic, or “PBT" chemicals are among the worst of the worst chemicals and should be swiftly regulated. We welcome today’s announcement that EPA is going to take expedited action on five of these PBT chemicals. We hope it is an indication EPA will work quickly to meet the strict deadlines required by the new law and to finally address the significant risks posed by these five chemicals. But, we are deeply disappointed that industry is exploiting a loophole in the new law to delay action on two chemicals commonly used in fragrances. These two chemicals -- Ethanone, 1-(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-2,3,5,5-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl) and Ethanone, 1-(1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydro-2,3,8,8-tetramethyl-2-naphthalenyl) -- are suspected to build up in bodies and should be subject to the same expedited deadlines as other PBT chemicals.
