Biden-Harris Administration Proposes Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to C.I. Pigment Violet 29
WASHINGTON – Today, Dec. 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing its 8th rule under the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) process to protect workers from inhalation exposure to C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29), a chemical that presents risk of lung damage. If finalized, the rule would require respiratory protections and cleaning programs in workplaces where PV29 is used in its dry powder form.
“We can keep people safe from exposure to this toxic chemical with commonsense workplace safety measures,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff.
PV29 is a pigment manufactured as a powder, slurry or paste that can be used for a variety of commercial and consumer applications. It is used to create other pigments, watercolors and acrylic paints, merchant ink for commercial printing, and as a dye for paints, coatings, basecoats, plastics and rubber products, some of which are used by the automobile industry and for producing industrial carpeting.
EPA’s 2021 risk evaluation for PV29 concluded that it presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health under its conditions of use. Based on the risk evaluation, PV29 can cause lung toxicity effects that can make it harder for lungs to provide oxygen to the body. The proposed rule would put in place protections where dry powder PV29 is present and there is therefore a potential inhalation risk for PV29. EPA has concluded that PV29 already incorporated into paints, coatings or other materials no longer has the physical properties that make dry powder PV29 damaging to lungs.
To address these risks, EPA is proposing to establish minimum respiratory protection requirements for workers who may be exposed to dry powder PV29 and require cleaning of equipment and work areas where the chemical has been used. The rule would require these worker protections when working with dry powder PV29 in the following uses:
- Incorporation into formulation, mixture or reaction products in paints and coatings.
- Incorporation into formulation, mixture or reaction products in plastic and rubber products.
- Intermediate in the creation or adjustment of color of other perylene pigments.
- Industrial and commercial use in automobile paints and coatings (original equipment manufacturer and refinishing).
- Industrial and commercial use in coatings and basecoats for paints and coating.
- Industrial and commercial use in merchant ink for commercial printing.
- Domestic manufacturing, import, recycling and disposal.
EPA encourages members of the public and stakeholders to read and comment on the proposed rule. The agency is especially interested in hearing perspectives from the public on the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed requirements for worker protections, including from workers and entities that would be required to implement the workplace protections.
EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for PV29 for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0277.
Learn more about today’s PV29 proposal.