Epichlorohydrin - information sheet

Oxirane, (chloromethyl)-
CAS Registry Number 106-89-8

Publications summarized:

• Final Screening Assessment for Oxirane, (chloromethyl)- (Epichlorohydrin) (published on January 31, 2009). Public comments received on the draft screening assessment and risk management scope were considered and a summary of the comments with Government responses was published.
• Associated notice: Canada Gazette, Part I: Vol. 143, No. 5 – January 31, 2009

On this page

• Overview
• About this substance
• Human and ecological exposures
• Key health and ecological effects (hazard)
• Risk assessment outcomes
  • Screening assessment conclusions
• Preventive actions and risk reduction
  • Where to find updates on risk management actions
• Related resources

Overview

• The Government of Canada conducts risk assessments of substances under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) to determine whether they present or may present a risk to human health or to the environment.
  • The risks posed by a substance are determined by both its hazardous properties (potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount or extent that people or the environment are exposed.
  • When needed, the Government applies risk management instruments under CEPA and other federal acts to help prevent or reduce potential harm.
• As a result of the screening assessment, epichlorohydrin was concluded to be harmful to human health, but not to the environment. Risk management actions were taken for the protection of human health.

About this substance

• The screening assessment focused on the substance oxirane, (chloromethyl)-, also referred to as epichlorohydrin. This substance was assessed as part of Batch 2 of the Challenge initiative of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP).
• Epichlorohydrin is a human-made chemical, and does not occur naturally in the environment.
• According to information gathered at the time of the assessment, epichlorohydrin was used in the manufacture of a wide variety of chemical products, such as resins used for lining food and beverage cans, polymers used to produce paper products used in food contact applications (for example, tissues, toweling, beverage filters), and in the treatment of drinking water and wastewater. Epichlorohydrin was also permitted for use as a food additive in the manufacture of modified food starch.
• Epichlorohydrin was also found in very low amounts in epoxy adhesives, coatings, and putties.

Human and ecological exposures

• The assessment indicated that people in Canada may be exposed to epichlorohydrin from food and beverage cans and drinking water. Exposure through these sources was expected to be very low.
• Since epichlorohydrin was expected to be present only as a residual in products containing epoxy resin or other resins made using epichlorohydrin, environmental exposures were expected to be low to negligible.

Key health and ecological effects (hazard)

• The important or critical effect used for characterizing the risk to human health from epichlorohydrin was carcinogenicity (potential to cause cancer).
• Epichlorohydrin also posed a moderate hazard to aquatic organisms.

Risk assessment outcomes

• Based upon the available information at the time of the assessment, it was determined that epichlorohydrin may pose a risk to human health due to potential carcinogenic effects.
• However, it was found that epichlorohydrin is not likely to cause ecological harm in Canada.

Screening assessment conclusions

• The Government concluded that epichlorohydrin is harmful to human health. The Government also concluded that epichlorohydrin is not entering the environment at levels that are harmful.
• It was also concluded that epichlorohydrin meets the persistence criteria but not the bioaccumulation criteria as set out in the Persistence and Bioaccumulation Regulations of CEPA.

Preventive actions and risk reduction

• Epichlorohydrin was added to Schedule 1 to CEPA. Adding a substance to Schedule 1 does not restrict its use, manufacture or import. Rather, it enables the Government to take risk management actions under CEPA.
• The Risk Management Approach for Epichlorohydrin was published on January 31, 2009 and had a 60-day public comment period. The following actions were taken to address concerns for human health:
  • Under the Food and Drugs Act, the use of epichlorohydrin in epoxy linings is reviewed in food packaging materials submissions to keep residual levels in finished food packaging materials as low as possible.
  • Epichlorohydrin was removed from the List of Permitted Starch- Modifying Agents (Lists of Permitted Food Additives).
  • Epichlorohydrin and 2 dyes that are manufactured using epichlorohydrin, HC Blue No. 5 (CAS RN 68478-64-8; CAS RN 158571-58-5) and HC Blue No. 4 (CAS RN 158571-57-4), were added as entries on Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. The Hotlist is used to communicate that certain substances may not be compliant with requirements of the Food and Drugs Act or the Cosmetic Regulations. Under Canadian legislation, cosmetics that contain substances that are harmful to the user cannot be sold.
  • Releases of epichlorohydrin will continue to be monitored under the National Pollutant Release Inventory.
  • Epichlorohydrin is subject to the Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions of CEPA. These provisions require that the Government be notified of proposed new activities related to this substance, and that the new activity be assessed for potential risks to human health and the environment before being undertaken.
    • In March 2025, the SNAc publication for epichlorohydrin was amended as a result of the review of current SNAc orders and notices. This update included changes to the definition for what is a significant new activity for this substance, as well as changes to what data are required by the Government for assessment.

Where to find updates on risk management actions

• Updates on actions can be found on the timeline for Batch 2.
• Up-to-date information on the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist and the List of Permitted Food Additives is available.
• Information about SNAc provisions applied to substances, including new notices and orders and those already published, can be found in the SNAc publications dataset.
• Additional information on the risk management of substances as well as a table of risk management actions for substances addressed under the CMP is available.
• Use the Substances Search tool to find substances that are referenced in certain legislative or regulatory instruments or on Government of Canada websites.

Related resources

• Epichlorohydrin may be found in products available to consumers. People in Canada should follow any safety warnings and directions related to the product and dispose of products responsibly.
• Assessments conducted under CEPA focus on risks of exposure of the general population, including populations who may be disproportionately impacted. Hazards related to chemicals used in the workplace are defined within the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS). The Government of Canada recognizes that it is the responsibility of the federal, provincial and territorial occupational health and safety organizations to coordinate legislation for the safe use of chemicals in the workplace. We are working to support this role by integrating the information, tools, and technical expertise of the CMP and Health Canada's Workplace Hazardous Products Program.