Acrylonitrile included in EPA “high-priority” chemicals

Washington – The US Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has included acrylonitrile on a list of five widely used chemicals to be investigated on a high-priority basis.

The EPA proposed 26 July that vinyl chloride monomer (VCM), acetaldehyde, acrylonitrile, benzamine (aniline) and 4,4’-methylene bis(2-chloroaniline) for risk evaluation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

EPA considered “numerous factors” in selecting the substances, including how they are used, their known hazards and exposures, as well as the availability of information on each chemical.

According to the US agency, that the selection was carried out following a round of discussions with industry, local governments and other stakeholders.

The agency has now designated a 90-day public comment period and is “particularly interested in relevant information for any of the prioritisation considerations.”