Detailed chemical list descriptions

TSCA Chemical Inventory
What is the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory?

EPA classifies chemical substances as either "existing" chemicals or "new" chemicals. The only way to determine if the substance you are working with is a new chemical is by consulting EPA's Toxic Substances Control Act Chemical Substance Inventory (commonly referred to as the TSCA Inventory or just the Inventory). Any substance that is not on the Inventory is classified as a new chemical. If a substance is "new", it can be manufactured for a commercial purpose only if it is subject to an exemption from PMN (Pre Manufacture Notification) reporting or a TSCA reporting exclusion (for example, a Low Volume Exemption, or exclusion as a naturally-occurring material). For substances which are "existing", the Inventory can be used to determine if there are restrictions on manufacture or use under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).There are approximately 75,000 chemical substances, as defined in Section 3 of the TSCA, on the Inventory at this time.

Section 8(b) of TSCA requires the EPA to identify, compile, keep current, and publish the TSCA Inventory, a list of chemical substances manufactured, imported, or processed for commercial purposes in the United States. The Inventory defines what chemical substances are "existing" in U.S. commerce for TSCA purposes. The Inventory includes not only manufactured or imported since commerce" but also substances manufactured as intermediates for use by the manufacturer. Substances that are subject to TSCA but are not on the Inventory are considered "new" and are subject to premanufacture notification (PMN) under section 5 of TSCA.

The TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory files provide a link between chemicals in the workplace and regulatory requirements. The data provided includes the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number, Preferred CA Index Name, molecular formula, and the chemical names reported by the submitters of the data. It also contains EPA codes to identify those substances that are either subject of an EPA rule or order promulgated under TSCA or that are exempt from TSCA inventory update rule reporting, as well as, the Preferred Chemical Abstracts Index Name, CERCLA RQ, RCRA code and more. Two other files are provided: the 'Premanufacture Notification (PMN) Number to EPA Accession Number Link' file as well as and SARA Title III Consolidated Chemical List data. The 'TITLE III (SARA AND CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS) Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and Accidental Release Prevention Consolidated Chemical List' includes chemicals subject to reporting requirements under Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right- to-Know Act (EPCRA), and chemicals listed under section 112(r) of Title III of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990. This consolidated list has been prepared to help firms handling chemicals determine whether they need to submit reports under sections 302, 304, or 313 of SARA Title III (EPCRA) and, for a specific chemical, what reports may need to be submitted. It will also help firms determine whether they will be subject to accident prevention regulations under CAA section 112(r). Separate lists are also provided of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) waste streams and unlisted hazardous wastes, and of radionuclides reportable under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). These lists should be used as a reference tool, not as a definitive source of compliance information.


Premanufacture Notification (PMN)
A list of Premanufacture Notification Numbers (i.e. new chemical substance notices submitted to the EPA) and the EPA Accession (i.e. access number).

The TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory files provide a link between chemicals in the workplace and regulatory requirements. The data provided includes the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number, Preferred CA Index Name, molecular formula, and the chemical names reported by the submitters of the data. It also contains EPA codes to identify those substances that are either subject of an EPA rule or order promulgated under TSCA or that are exempt from TSCA inventory update rule reporting, as well as, the Preferred Chemical Abstracts Index Name, CERCLA RQ, RCRA code and more. Two other files are provided: the 'Premanufacture Notification (PMN) Number to EPA Accession Number Link' file as well as and SARA Title III Consolidated Chemical List data. The 'TITLE III (SARA AND CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS) Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act and Accidental Release Prevention Consolidated Chemical List' includes chemicals subject to reporting requirements under Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), also known as the Emergency Planning and Community Right- to-Know Act (EPCRA), and chemicals listed under section 112(r) of Title III of the Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments of 1990. This consolidated list has been prepared to help firms handling chemicals determine whether they need to submit reports under sections 302, 304, or 313 of SARA Title III (EPCRA) and, for a specific chemical, what reports may need to be submitted. It will also help firms determine whether they will be subject to accident prevention regulations under CAA section 112(r). Separate lists are also provided of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) waste streams and unlisted hazardous wastes, and of radionuclides reportable under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA). These lists should be used as a reference tool, not as a definitive source of compliance information.


Canadian DSL
On May 4, 1994, Environment Canada published the Domestic Substances List (DSL) in Part II of the Canada Gazette. The DSL is an inventory of approximately 23 000 substances manufactured in, imported into or used in Canada on a commercial scale. It is based on substances present in Canada, under certain conditions, between January 1, 1984 and December 31, 1986.
The DSL is the sole standard against which a substance is judged to be "new" to Canada. With few exemptions, all substances not on this list are considered new and must be reported prior to importation or manufacture in order that they can be assessed to determine if they are toxic or could become toxic to the environment or human health.
It is crucial that notifiers determine whether the substance to be imported into or manufactured in Canada is listed on the DSL or on the Non-domestic Substances List (NDSL). Substances not appearing on the DSL are considered to be new to Canada and are subject to notification. Substances listed on the NDSL are subject to notification but with reduced information requirements.
When Environment Canada and Health Canada suspect that a new substance meets the definition of toxic under CEPA 1999, control measures are imposed to minimize any risk to the environment or human health. Measures such as prohibitions or conditions imposed on new substances are then published in the Canada Gazette.
Canadian importers or manufacturers of new substances may request waivers for any of the prescribed information if they can demonstrate that the information is unnecessary to determine whether the substance is toxic, that the substance will be contained throughout its life cycle or that it is technically impossible to perform the required tests. The decision to grant a waiver is made on a case-by-case basis by Environment Canada and Health Canada. Those decisions are also published in the Canada Gazette.


Canadian NDSL
Environment Canada has published and continues to maintain a Non-Domestic Substances List (NDSL). This second publication is based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substances Inventory for 1985, and contains more than 58 000 entries. Substances that are not on the DSL but are listed on the NDSL are subject to lesser information requirements


TSCA Section 12(b)
TSCA section 12(b) requires any person who exports or intends to export a chemical substance
or mixture to notify the Environmental Protection Agency of such exportation if any of the following actions have been taken under TSCA with respect to that chemical substance or mixture:
(1) data are required under section 4 or 5(b),
(2) an order has been issued under section 5,
(3) a rule has been proposed or promulgated under section 5 or 6, or
(4) an action is pending, or relief has been granted under section 5, 6,or 7.

TSCA CORR (Chemicals on Reporting Rules)
The CORR database contains information on chemicals which are regulated under specific sections of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), or section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). These chemicals have been the subject of proposed or final rules issued by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) in the Federal Register. Certain TSCA 5(e) consent order chemicals are also included.

California Proposition 65 (PROP65)
Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. The Proposition was intended by its authors to protect California citizens and the State's drinking water sources from chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals.
Proposition 65 requires the Governor to publish, at least annually, a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity.
25249.6. Required Warning Before Exposure To Chemicals Known to Cause Cancer Or Reproductive Toxicity. No person in the course of doing business shall knowingly and intentionally expose any individual to a chemical known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity without first giving clear and reasonable warning to such individual, except as provided in Section 25249.10

Manufacturers, distributors, a facility owners/dischargers are required to warn citizens of the state of California of the presence/potential exposure to Proposition 65 listed substances. Example warnings include product labels and facility signs.

EPA Air Toxics
Toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants, are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. EPA is working with state, local, and tribal governments to reduce air toxics releases of 188 pollutants to the environment. Examples of toxic air pollutants include benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries. Examples of other listed air toxics include dioxin, asbestos, toluene, and metals such as cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead compounds.

Hazardous air pollutants are air pollutants that are defined by the Federal Clean Air Act as being a threat or risk of cancer or other serious adverse health affects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. EPA is working with state, local, and tribal governments to reduce air toxics releases of 188 specific chemical (HAP) substances to the environment. Examples of toxic air pollutants include benzene, which is found in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, which is emitted from some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of industries. Examples of other listed air toxics include dioxin, asbestos, toluene, and metals such as cadmium, mercury, chromium, and lead compounds. Facilities that emit hazardous air pollutant (HAP) may be subject to regulations such as the maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards and other National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air pollutants (NESHAP).


EPA TITLE III List of Lists
This is a consolidated list of chemicals subject to reporting requirements under Title III of the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) with references to their reporting status under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), and Sections 302 and 313 of The Emergency Planning & Community Right-To-Know Act (EPCRA).


EPA TRI Chemicals
The Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) is a publicly available EPA database that contains information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities reported annually by certain covered industry groups as well as federal facilities. This inventory was established under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 (EPCRA) and expanded by the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990.
EPCRA Section 313 requires EPA and the States to annually collect data on releases and transfers of certain toxic chemicals from industrial facilities, and make the data available to the public in the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). In 1990 Congress passed the Pollution Prevention Act, which required that additional data on waste management and source reduction activities be reported under TRI. The goal of TRI is to empower citizens, through information, to hold companies and local governments accountable in terms of how toxic chemicals are managed. The TRI program has expanded significantly since its inception in 1987. The Agency has issued rules to roughly double the number of chemicals included in the TRI to approximately 650. The provided database identifies these chemicals.