May 08, 2011 |
EPA issues a significant new use rule for multi-walled carbon nanotubes
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(Nanowerk News) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a significant new use rule (SNUR) under section
5(a)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the chemical
substance identified generically as multi-walled carbon nanotubes
(MWCNT) which was the subject of premanufacture notice (PMN) P-08-199.
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This action requires persons who intend to manufacture, import, or
process the chemical substance for a use that is designated as a
significant new use by this final rule to notify EPA at least 90 days
before commencing that activity.
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EPA believes that this action is
necessary because the chemical substance may be hazardous to human
health. The required notification would provide EPA with the
opportunity to evaluate the intended use and, if necessary, to prohibit
or limit that activity before it occurs.
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This final rule is effective June 6, 2011.
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As discussed in the proposed rule,
EPA identified concerns for lung effects,
immunotoxicity, and mutagenicity from
exposure to the PMN substance during
its review of the chemical substance,
which was the subject of P–08–199.
These concerns were based on test data
on analogous respirable, poorly soluble
particulates and on other carbon
nanotubes (CNTs). EPA determined that
the PMN substance met the decisional
criteria at § 721.170.
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