Nonylphenol Added to List of Toxic Chemicals

The United States Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to add a nonylphenol category to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990. Any company that manufactures, processes, or uses nonylphenol-containing compounds will be subject to this reporting. It is expected that nonylphenol compounds will continue to see increased scrutiny.

From the document announcing the proposed rule:

EPA is proposing to add this chemical category to the EPCRA section 313 list pursuant to its authority to add chemicals and chemical categories because EPA believes this category meets the EPCRA section 313(d)(2)(C)toxicity criterion. Based on a review of the available production and use information, the members of the nonylphenol category are expected to be manufactured, processed or otherwise used in quantities that would exceed the EPCRA section 313 reporting thresholds.

The regulations will affect both straight-chain and branched versions of nonylphenol. Because there is no one CAS number for nonylphenol and because of the apparent confusion that has resulted from the use of multiple CAS numbers, the EPA is proposing to add nonylphenol as a category defined by a structure. EPA is proposing to define the nonylphenol category using the structure (right) and text presented below.

Nonylphenol is of interest for study as it has been found to be toxic to aquatic organisms and has been found in ambient waters. Because of nonylphenol’s toxicity, chemical properties, and widespread use as a chemical intermediate, concerns have been raised over the potential risks to aquatic organisms from exposμre to nonylphenol. More information on the potential hazard posed by nonylphenol can be foμnd in the EPA’s 2005 Water Qμality Criteria document for nonylphenol: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03/documents/ambient-wqc-nonylphenol-final.pdf

CIL offers both labeled and unlabeled versions of the straight-chain nonylphenol, as well as several branched versions for laboratories testing for the presence of these compounds.

Nonylphenol, Nonylphenol Ethoxylates, and Octylphenol