New substances: risk assessment summary, new substances notification 20459
Official title: New Substances Notification 20459: Ethylene oxide, polymer with 2,2'-iminodiethanol and propylene oxide
Regulatory decisions
Under the provisions for Substances and Activities New to Canada in Part 5 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), and pursuant to section 83 of the Act, the Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health have assessed information in respect of the substance and have determined that it is not anticipated to enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that have or may have an immediate or long term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity, constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends, or constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.
Substance identity
The notified polymer is ethylene oxide, polymer with 2,2'-iminodiethanol and propylene oxide (Chemical Abstracts Service registry numberFootnote 1 34354-45-5). The substance does not meet the Reduced Regulatory Requirements criteria according to the New Substances Notification Regulations (Chemicals and Polymers) because its number average molecular weight is less than 1000 daltons.
Notified and potential uses
The substance is proposed to be imported into Canada in quantities greater than 10 000 kg/yr for the notified use in polyurethane foam manufacturing. Potential uses may include paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, and composite materials.
Environmental fate and behaviour
Based on its physical and chemical properties, if the substance is released to the environment, it will tend to partition to water. The substance is not expected to be persistent in water based on anticipated inherent biodegradability (30-60% over 28 days). The substance is not expected to bioaccumulate based on the very low octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow <0).
Environmental risk assessment
Based on the available hazard information, the substance is expected to have low acute toxicity to fish, aquatic invertebrates, and algae (0% lethal concentration and 0% effective concentration ≥100 mg/L). A predicted no-effect concentration was not calculated given the low potential for ecological hazard.
The notified activities in Canada were assessed to estimate the environmental exposure potential of the substance throughout its life cycle. Environmental exposure from the notified activity is expected to be mainly by release of the substance to water at low rates. A predicted environmental concentration was not calculated due to the low potential for ecotoxicity. No potential activities that could significantly increase environmental risks compared to those notified were identified.
Based on the low potential for ecotoxicity and environmental exposure, the substance is unlikely to cause ecological harm in Canada.
Human health risk assessment
Based on the available hazard information, the substance is expected to have a low acute toxicity by the oral route (median lethal dose >2000 mg/kg body weight). The substance does not contain structural features associated with adverse human health effects.
When the notified substance is used in the manufacturing of rigid polyurethane foam, direct exposure of the general population is not expected due to the industrial nature of the use.
Consumers may come into contact with end-use products containing the substance; however, direct exposure is not expected because the substance will be chemically reacted into a stable matrix once the product is cured and will be unavailable for uptake. Indirect exposure of the general population from environmental media is not expected given the specialized industrial use of the substance, which results in little or no release to the environment. No potential uses that could significantly increase human health risks compared to the notified uses were identified.
Based on the low toxicity and low potential for exposure, the substance is not likely to pose a significant health risk to the general population, and is therefore unlikely to be harmful to human health.
Assessment conclusion
When the substance is used as notified, it is not expected to be harmful to human health or the environment according to the criteria under section 64 of the Act.
A conclusion under CEPA, on this substance, is not relevant to, nor does it preclude an assessment against the hazard criteria for Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System that are specified in the Controlled Products Regulations or Hazardous Products Regulations for products intended for the workplace.