Next, federal government will weigh in on safety of printer inks, cosmetics
18.08.2008 19:01
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- Source: cbc.ca
The federal government is expected to release a draft assessment on Saturday of chemicals that includes a pigment used in some printer cartridges, a colouring agent used in cosmetics, and a dye used in detergents and cleaners. The review is part of the government's Chemical Management Plan, in which 200 chemicals are assessed in batches. The program, run by Environment Canada and Health Canada, was announced on Dec. 8, 2006. It was under the same program that Health Minister Tony Clement announced a ban on April 18 of the import and sale of polycarbonate baby bottles containing bisphenol A. Clement said the chemical could affect early development in infants and newborns. Studies in peer-reviewed journals had indicated that even at low doses, the chemical can increase breast and ovarian cancer-cell growth and the growth of some prostate cancer cells in animals. The plastics industry vigorously defended the safety of the chemical, noting it has been used in a range of products for 50 years. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently said the chemical was safe to use in food containers, as only trace amounts of bisphenol were found to leach into the food. Critics suggested the federal agency relied on industry-funded studies in its evaluation. The following chemicals, included in Batch 3, are not believed to pose any risks to human health but may pose harm to the environment in low concentrations: - Disperse Red 86 is used in some textile products and Disperse Violet 57 is used to colour certain plastics.
- Pigment Red 3 is used in printing inks and cartridges, paints, adhesives, wallpapers, linoleum, carbon papers, typewriter ribbons, artists' materials and grout products.
- Pigment Orange 5 is synthetic colorant used in paints, coatings, adhesives and inks.
- Pigment Red 4 is a synthetic organic pigment. Environment Canada notes information on use of the chemical is confidential.
- Disperse Blue 19 is used in the manufacturing of products including oils, waxes, greases, fats, emulsions and pesticide products.
- Pigment Orange 2 is used to colour plastics and inks.
- Pigment Red 6 can be found in chemical products including solvents, carriers, strippers and etchers.
- Pigment Red 5 is used as a colorant in cosmetic goods, stationary, wood stains, paints, varnishes, latex and synthetic fibres.
- Acid Blue 127, a synthetic dye, is used in soap and cleaning products.
- Disperse Blue 77 is a man-made organic dye that can be found to make textile fabrics.
- PBMBDP is used to make synthetic rubber for hoses, rubber seals and gaskets.
- PDDAM, an organic colorant, is used to manufacture pigment, stain, dye and ink.
- Acid Violet 48 is used as a dye to colour detergents and cleaners and is used to manufacture textiles.
- Pigment Red 251 is used as a colorant in printing ink, pesticides, fuel additives, lubricants, paints, lacquers and construction materials.
Batch 3 also includes these chemicals which are being evaluated for their effect on unborn offspring as well as the environment: - 2-Methoxyethanol acetate is used in products including paints, lacquers, glues, adhesives, waxes, oils, textile printing, film, nail polish and dry cleaning products.
- 2-ethoxyethanol acetate is used as a solvent in paints, varnishes, silkscreen printing inks, wood stain and leather finishing dyes.
- 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol, a synthetic organic chemical, is used in a wide range of products including stamp pads, ball point and felt tip pens, hydraulic brake fluids, wood stains, household and commercial cleaners and cosmetics.
- 2-Methoxy-1-propanol is used as a solvent or agent in coatings, sealants, adhesives, agricultural pesticides, various types of inks, hydraulic brake fluids and lubricants, and household and industrial cleaners.
Environment Canada and Health Canada are expected to release its draft assessment of Batch 4 chemicals which include an antimicrobial used in some shampoos and deodorants and an organic compound used in certain toiletries on Nov. 15. RelatedInternal LinksIN DEPTH: Chemicals Ottawa's watchingIN DEPTH: Bisphenol ATrace bisphenol A levels in canned goods harmless: Health CanadaOttawa to ban baby bottles made with bisphenol AConsumer HeadlinesLondon, Ont., to vote on giving bottled water the bootLondon, Ont., may become one of the first cities in Canada to stop selling bottled water in municipal buildings.Manitoba offers thousands to homeowners who use geothermal energyThe Manitoba government unveiled new incentives Monday to encourage residents and business owners to switch to geothermal technology for heating and cooling.Magazine-sharing site running afoul of U.S. copyright lawThe magazine industry, already facing a decline in newsstand sales and falling ad revenue, is being besieged by a new foe: digital piracy.Travel to Canada down over past year: StatsCanSignificantly fewer people are travelling to Canada this summer compared with last year, while more Canadians are packing their bags for trips abroad in the same period, said a report released today by Statistics Canada.Listeria concerns prompt beef recallConcerns over meat-borne listeria contamination have prompted a health warning from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Consumer Life FeaturesIN DEPTHEnvironmentHealth Canada to evaluate pigments, solventsECONOMYGlobal consumerismHow the world spends its moneySAFETYRecalls and AdvisoriesYOUR VOICEFound your calling?Tell us why your job is a dream job!BLOGFood BytesIn praise of old kitchen gadgetsBLOGComm-OdditiesBillionaire breaks real-estate record with $793M bidPeople who read this also read …
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