Approach for a Subset of Petroleum Substances Prioritized during Categorization

1. Introduction

As a part of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), the Government of Canada  assesses and manages, where appropriate, the potential health and ecological risks associated with substances prioritized for action under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) (Canada 1999). This document addresses 83 petroleum substances which were identified as priorities for assessment as they met categorization criteria under subsection 73(1) of CEPA or were considered a priority based on other human health concerns (ECCC, HC [modified 2007]).

This document identifies the petroleum substances for which risk assessment activities can be considered as having already taken place under CEPA, and proposes that, as such, these substances not undergo further assessment at this time. In addition, proposed or future risk management actions stemming from previous assessments would be expected to also address certain substances in this document. Addressing these substances in this way will facilitate focusing attention on those substances or groups that have not yet been subject to assessment.

This follows on a previous activity (Environment Canada, Health Canada 2015), where 248 substances on the Domestic Substances List were associated with other risk assessment activities under CEPA and, as a result, were identified as not requiring further risk assessment at that time.

Additional risk assessment or risk management activities may be undertaken if new information becomes available on these substances as a result of: 1) identification of new hazard or exposure information which may impact previous risk analyses; 2) international activities; or 3) risk management activities including performance evaluation and subsequent changes to risk management.

2. Analysis

An analysis was undertaken to determine which of the petroleum substances that were previously identified as priorities are associated with risk assessment initiatives that have been completed in past under CEPA.

Information on various petroleum substances was collected through a mandatory survey conducted under section 71 of CEPA (Environment Canada 2015a) and a separate voluntary industry survey (Environment Canada 2015b) to determine industrial and consumer uses of these substances in Canada. Additionally, further searches of internal Health Canada on-line databases, external Health Canada contractor reports, and data from Health Canada partners  were also conducted to determine if there were any consumer or industrial uses. Identified uses of the 83 substances in this document  are not expected to result in greater exposures or risks than those that were previously characterized in their respective petroleum group screening assessments. As such, substances are not expected to contribute additional concern to human health or the environment beyond those that have already been identified in assessment products of similar substances.

Based on their composition, physical-chemical properties and reported uses, a total of 83 substances were considered to fall within petroleum groups which have previously been addressed under CEPA. No further risk assessment activity will be undertaken on the following 83 substances at this time:

• 5 - aromatic extracts
• 12 - heavy fuel oils (HFOs)
• 8 - petrolatum and waxes
• 2- asphalt
• 53 - petroleum and refinery gases (PRGs)
• 3 - natural gas condensates (NGCs),

2.1. Aromatic Extracts

Aromatic extracts are a class of substances derived from solvent extraction of crude oil vacuum distillation distillate and residual streams and contain a high level of aromatic compounds. These substances are consumed on-site at refineries, and are also transported in Canada via trains and trucks for use at industrial and commercial facilities. Petroleum-derived oils including aromatic extracts can be used as extender oils in the formulation of plastic and rubber products to achieve elasticity and make brittle materials soft and flexible. Extender oils are also a major ingredient in the production of vehicle tires, and are therefore found in crumb rubber (ECCC, HC 2017a).

Three distillate aromatic extracts (DAEs) were previously assessed and did not meet the criteria under paragraphs 64(a), (b) or (c) of CEPA^{Footnote 1}  (ECCC, HC 2017a).

The five substances listed in Table 2-1 fall under the above definition of aromatic extracts and have similar uses to those previously assessed. As such, these substances will not undergo further risk assessment at this time.

^aThese substances were not identified under subsection 73(1) of CEPA but were included in this document as they were considered a priority based on other human health concerns.

2.2. Heavy fuel oils (HFOs)

Heavy fuel oils (HFOs) are a group of complex petroleum mixtures that serve as blending stocks in final heavy fuel products or as intermediate products of distillate or residue derived from refinery distillation or cracking units. The final fuel product usually consists of a mixture of HFOs as well as higher-quality hydrocarbons as diluents. HFOs are composed of aromatic, aliphatic and cycloalkane hydrocarbons, typically in the carbon range of C₂₀ to C₅₀ (Concawe 1998). They have previously been identified as having industrial or commercial use in such applications as potash processing, and for use as viscosity adjusters in asphalt emulsion road maintenance products  (ECCC, HC 2016a).

HFOs have been assessed under the petroleum sector stream approach as site restricted (stream 1; i.e., not expected to be transported off petroleum facility sites in which they are produced) substances (Environment Canada, Health Canada 2011), industry restricted (stream 2; i.e., transported between industrial facilities and used on-site) substances (Environment Canada, Health Canada 2013a), as fuels (steam 3) (Environment Canada, Health Canada 2014), and as substances in products (stream 4) (ECCC, HC 2016a). HFOs in these assessments did not meet the criteria under paragraphs 64(a), (b) or (c) of CEPA (Environment Canada, Health Canada 2011, 2013a, 2014; ECCC, HC 2016a).

The 12 substances listed in Table 2-2  fall under the above definition of heavy fuel oils and have similar uses to those previously assessed. As such these substances will not undergo further risk assessment at this time.

^aThese substances were not identified under subsection 73(1) of CEPA but were included in this document as they were considered a priority based on other human health concerns.

2.3. Petrolatum and wax substances

Petrolatum and wax substances are found in industrial and marketplace products including in cosmetics, personal care products, lubricants, household cleaning products, adhesives and sealants, and paints and coatings (ECCC, HC 2016b).

Three petrolatum and waxes were previously assessed and did not meet the criteria under paragraphs 64(a), (b) or (c) of CEPA (ECCC, HC 2016b).

The eight substances listed in Table 2-3 fall under the above definition of petrolatum and waxes and have similar uses to those previously assessed. As such, these substances will not undergo further assessment at this time.

^aThese substances were not identified under subsection 73(1) of CEPA but were included in this document as they were considered a priority based on other human health concerns

2.4. Asphalt and Oxidized Asphalt

Asphalt and oxidized asphalt are complex combinations of high molecular weight organic compounds; carbon numbers are predominantly greater than C25 with high carbon-to-hydrogen ratios. They are residual substances derived from the high temperature vacuum distillation of petroleum. Asphalt and oxidized asphalt are used predominantly in the construction of roads and in roofing materials, but they have minor uses in adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, and other miscellaneous consumer products (ECCC, HC 2017b).

Asphalts and oxidized asphalts were previously assessed and did not meet the criteria under paragraphs 64(a), (b), or (c) of CEPA (ECCC, HC 2017b).

The two substances listed in Table 2-4 fall under the above definition of asphalts and have similar uses to those previously assessed. As such, these substances will not undergo further assessment at this time.   

2.5. Petroleum and Refinery Gases (PRGs)

PRGs comprise a category of saturated and unsaturated petroleum light hydrocarbons with carbon numbers in the range of C1 to C8, but predominantly from C1 to C5, which are gaseous at environmentally relevant temperatures and quickly disperse in the atmosphere if they are released to the environment. The C₅ and higher components of these PRGs that are liquid at ambient temperatures have high vapour pressures, so evaporate readily. Petroleum and refinery gases are produced by refineries, upgraders and natural gas processing facilities (Environment Canada, Health Canada 2013b) and their compositions vary depending on the source of the crude oil, bitumen or natural gas, as well as the process operating conditions and processing units involved.

Forty site-restricted PRGs were assessed under Stream 1 of the petroleum sector stream approach (PSSA) (Environment Canada, Health Canada  2013b) . An additional four industry-restricted  PRGs were assessed as part of Stream 2 of the PSSA (Environment Canada, Health Canada 2014b). Two PRGs found within consumer products (also known as liquefied petroleum gases; LPGs) were previously assessed in Stream 4 of the PSSA (ECCC, HC 2017c). The substances in all three streams were found to meet the criteria under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA. The substances were concluded not to be meeting the criteria under paragraphs 64(a) or (b) of CEPA.

These assessments considered gaseous releases of substances from petroleum facilities, during transportation of the substances, and during consumer use. The risk to human health was identified for those living in the vicinity of petroleum refineries and upgraders that emit these gases. The source of the risk was the contribution to overall 1,3-butadiene concentrations in ambient air as a result of fugitive releases of these gases from the petroleum facilites. Due to the exposure characterization methodology employed, the previously published assessments integrated exposures from all PRGs present at a petroleum facility and were not specific to any particular CAS RN or group of CAS RNs (i.e., site-restricted, industry-restricted, or marketplace product PRGs). As such, the identification and quantification of risk leading to the conclusions under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA were attributable to all emissions from gas streams in petroleum facilities, including any contributions from the 53 PRGs considered in this report for which 1,3-butadiene, if present, is also considered to be the high hazard component. Accordingly, any risk management action implemented (Environment Canada, Health Canada 2013c, 2014c) to address the previously assessed PRGs will also serve to reduce potential risks from these additional PRGs.  The proposed Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Volatile Organic Compounds (Petroleum Sector) published in Canada Gazette (GOC 2017) are intended to address emissions of PRGs.

The 53 substances listed in Table 2-5 fall within this definition of PRGs and were determined to be produced in, and/or imported into, Canada. As such, these substances will not undergo further assessment at this time.

^aThese substances were not identified under subsection 73(1) of CEPA but were included in this document as they were considered a priority based on other human health concerns.

2.6. Natural Gas Condensates (NGCs)

NGCs are defined as complex combinations of hydrocarbons that condense or separate from the gaseous phase into the liquid phase during production at wellheads; in natural gas processing plants; in gas pipelines for production, gathering, transmission and distribution; and/or in straddle plants along the main gas pipelines. NGCs consist of hydrocarbons with carbon numbers primarily between C5 and C15 (ECCC, HC  2016c). In addition, this definition encompasses all liquids derived from natural gas distillates that fall primarily within this carbon range.

Natural gas condensates, as a group, were previously assessed by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada (ECCC, HC 2016c), and were found to meet the criteria under paragraphs 64(a) and (c) of CEPA. The substances were concluded not to be meeting the criteria under paragraph 64(b) of CEPA. NGCs have been proposed to be added as a group to Schedule 1 of CEPA (ECCC, HC 2016d).

The three substances listed in Table 2-6 fall within the definition of this group, and will be addressed by any subsequent risk management measures that are developed for this substance group. As such, these substances will not undergo further assessment at this time.

3. Overall Summary

The 83 substances in this document will not undergo further risk assessment at this time given previous assessment activities.

References

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