The EPA recently announced it has proposed its eighth 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 a risk of lung damage. If finalized, the rule would require respiratory protection and cleaning programs in workplaces where PV29 is used in its dry powder form.
The pigment PV29 is manufactured as a powder, slurry, or paste that’s used for a variety of commercial and consumer applications, such as the creation of:
- Other pigments
- Watercolors
- Acrylic paints
- Merchant ink for commercial printing
- Dye for paints, coatings, base coats, plastics, and rubber products
“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 in the EPA news release.
Under its conditions of use, the EPA’s 2021 risk evaluation for PV29 concluded it presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health.
“Based on the risk evaluation, PV29 can cause lung toxicity effects that can make it harder for lungs to provide oxygen to the body,” according to an Agency news release. “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.”
In the proposed rule, the EPA calls for the establishment of minimum respiratory protection requirements for workers who may be exposed to dry powder PV29 and the cleaning of equipment and work areas where the chemical has been used. The rule proposes 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; and
- Domestic manufacturing, import, recycling, and disposal.
The public and stakeholders are encouraged to comment on the proposed rule. The EPA 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 protections.
Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2021-0277.