Larainne KoehlerRadon & Indoor Air Coordinator
Radiation and Indoor Air Branch - 25th Floor
US Environmental Protection Agency - Region 2
290 Broadway
New York, NY 10007-1866
212-637-3745
212-637-4942(fax)
For radon information in New York, please call 1-800-458-1158  Option
1 for radon or visit  http://www.nyhealth.gov/radiation
 For radon information in NJ, please call 1-800-648-0394 or visit
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/rpp/radon/index.htm
Radon & Indoor Air information is available from the EPA website at
www.epa.gov/iaq
----- Forwarded by Larainne
Koehler/R2/USEPA/US on 04/13/2011 01:42 PM -----
From:      
 "U.S. EPA"

To:      
 Larainne Koehler/R2/USEPA/US@EPA
Date:      
 04/13/2011 01:25 PM
Subject:    
   EPA News Release
(HQ): EPA Announces Actions on Two Chemicals to Reduce Harm to People
CONTACT:
Dale Kemery (News Media Only)
kemery.dale@epa.gov
202-564-7839
202-564-4355
April 13, 2011
 
EPA Announces Actions on Two Chemicals
to Reduce Harm to People
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has released action plans to address the potential
health risks of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), toluene diisocyanate
(TDI), and related compounds. Americans may be exposed to these chemicals
when they are used in certain applications such as spray foam insulation,
sealing concrete or finishing floors. The action plans are part of Administrator
Lisa P. Jackson’s commitment to enhance EPA’s chemical management program.
The plans identify a range of actions the agency is considering under the
authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act.
“There has been an increase in recent years in promoting the use of foams
and sealants by do-it-yourself energy-conscious homeowners, and many people
may now be unknowingly exposed to risks from these chemicals,” said Steve
Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and
Pollution Prevention. “EPA is working to protect the health of the American
people and the environment.”
Diisocyanates are used to make polyurethane
polymers. Most polyurethane products, such as foam mattresses or bowling
balls, are fully reacted or "cured," and are not of concern.
Some products, however, such as adhesives, coatings, and spray foam, continue
to react while in use, and may contain "uncured" diisocyanates
to which people may be exposed.
Diisocyanates are known to cause severe skin and breathing responses in
workers who have been repeatedly exposed to them. The chemicals have been
documented as a leading cause of work-related asthma, and in severe cases,
fatal reactions have occurred. To protect worker health, the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates workplace exposures through
permissible exposure limits. In contrast to the availability of exposure
data for professionals who work with diisocyanates, there is very limited
information available about the use and exposure patterns of consumers
 who may be exposed to products containing uncured MDI and TDI. EPA
plans to carefully consider the potential risks from consumer exposure
to these chemicals.
Actions to address concerns associated with
TDI, MDI, and related compounds include issuing rules to call in data on
any past allegations of significant adverse effects, obtain unpublished
health and safety data from industry sources, require exposure monitoring
studies for consumer products, and possibly ban or restrict consumer products
containing uncured MDI or TDI. EPA will continue to work with other federal
agencies, the polyurethanes industry, and others to ensure improved labeling
and provide comprehensive product safety information for polyurethane products
containing uncured compounds, especially in consumer products.
More information about spray polyurethane
foam: http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/spf/spray_polyurethane_foam.html
More information on these and other chemical action plans: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals
 
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Sent by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460
· 202-564-4355
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