Sludge Watch ==> Groups Demand Action on Gender-Bending Chemicals

[Maureen Reilly]

http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/48724502_epa_groups_demand_epa_action_gender_bending_chemicals


(Thanks to Caroline Snyder...)

June 5, 2007
Groups Demand Action on Gender-Bending Chemicals

The Sierra Club, Environmental Law and Policy Center, UNITE HERE, Washington 
Toxics Coalition, Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Pacific Coast 
Federation of Fishermen's Associations are petitioning EPA under the Toxic 
Substances Control

Act to request additional study, product labeling and restrictions on the 
use of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates.

What are nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates?

Nonylphenol (NP) is an organic chemical used primarily to produce 
nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs). The main use for NPEs is as a cleaner and 
detergent, but they are also used in some manufacturing processes and 
personal care products. When NPEs degrade, they break down into more toxic 
substances, including NP (the parent compound), which persist longer in the 
environment.

How widely are these chemicals used?

In 1998, 230 million pounds of NP were produced in the United States with 
demand increasing at about two percent annually. The chemical is used to 
produce almost 400 million pounds of products containing NPEs in the U.S. 
each year.

Are these chemicals found in the environment?

NP and its other breakdown products have been found in streams and rivers, 
drinking water, treated wastewater, sediment and sewage treatment plant 
sludge. A U.S. Geological Survey study found metabolites of NPEs present in 
over 61 per cent of tested U. S. streams. EPA has found an overall average 
concentration of alkylphenolic compounds (a family of chemicals which 
includes NP and NPEs) of 1 part per billion in treated drinking water.

What are the potential effects of these chemicals on our environment?

Even at levels often found in America's waterways, NPEs may hinder the 
reproduction, growth, and survival of aquatic life such as rainbow trout, 
winter flounder, salmon and oysters. Extensive research indicates that NPE 
metabolites disrupt the endocrine system and interfere with the hormones of 
fish and shellfish. Exposure to NPE breakdown products causes organisms to 
develop both male and female sex organs; increases mortality and damage to 
the liver and kidney; decreases testicular growth and sperm counts in male 
fish; and disrupts normal male to female sex-ratios, metabolism, 
development, growth, and reproduction.

What are the potential human health effects of these chemicals?

There is little published research concerning the human health effects of NP 
and NPEs. In September, 2006, however, research published in Toxicological 
Sciences shows that human placenta exhibits changes in response to NP in the 
first trimester. The result may be early termination of pregnancy and fetal 
growth defects. It also found that the effects of NP are greater and longer 
lasting than estrogen and can occur at concentrations 100-1000 times lower 
than those previously studied.

Do sewage treatment plants remove these chemicals from wastewater?

Sewage treatment plants remove some, but not all, NPEs. The problem is that 
treatment at wastewater treatment plants produces NPE metabolites that are 
more toxic, more estrogenic, and more persistent than NPE itself. They then 
enter the environment in the effluent that is released to surface water or 
groundwater and in sewage sludge. And because of sanitary and combined sewer 
overflows, there are billions of gallons of polluted wastewater that spill 
into our water without ever reaching any treatment at all.

What action has the EPA taken?

In December, 2005, U.S. EPA published final water quality criteria for 
nonylphenol. These criteria are required to protect aquatic life found in 
waters. In developing criteria, the EPA acknowledged that the outdated 
1985-era procedures it relies on do not take into account recent research 
that would enable the agency to better protect aquatic life from the harmful 
effects of endocrine disruption. The current EPA criteria for chronic 
exposure is 6.6 parts per billion in freshwater and 1.7 parts per billion in 
saltwater, which are not low enough to address fully the 
endocrine-disrupting effects that have been observed. In addition, these 
criteria fail to account for all NPE metabolites.

Are other countries addressing the risks these chemicals present?

Canada set a limit of 1 part per billion of NP and NPE mixtures in 
freshwater and 0.7 parts per billion in saltwater. The European Union has 
limited the use of NP and NPEs to 0.1% by mass in industrial and 
institutional cleaners, domestic cleaners, textile and leather processing, 
cosmetics and personal care products, and a number of other applications. 
There are some exemptions to this restriction.

How is the private sector addressing these chemicals?

Some large detergent manufacturers, including Procter & Gamble and Unilever, 
for example, have publicly stated that they do not use NP due to 
environmental concerns. Wal-Mart has also asked its suppliers who use NP to 
find safer replacement chemicals.

Are there safer alternatives to nonylphenol?

Yes. According to the EPA's voluntary program encouraging the phase-out of 
these chemicals ("Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative") "safer 
alternative surfactants are comparable in cost and are readily available." 
See: http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/projects/formulat/sdsi.htm
What does this petition ask the EPA to do?

The petitioners are requesting that EPA use its authority under the Toxic 
Substances Control Act to require manufacturers and processors to provide 
information to fill gaps in toxicity data which the EPA has acknowledged, 
including data on effects on laundry workers and the general population. In 
addition, the petition requests labeling of products containing NP and NPEs, 
restrictions on discharging these chemicals into poorly operating wastewater 
treatment plants, pollution prevention planning for facilities using large 
quantities of these chemicals, and a ban on their use in industrial and 
commercial detergents.