Diazenedicarboxamide - information sheet

Diazenedicarboxamide
CAS Registry Number 123-77-3

Overview

The Government of Canada conducted a science-based screening assessment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) to address the potential for harm to Canadians and to the environment from diazenedicarboxamide.
The risk posed by a substance is determined by considering both its hazardous properties (its potential to cause adverse human health or ecological effects) and the amount of exposure there is to people and the environment.
The ecological hazard and exposure potentials of this substance were classified using the Ecological Risk Classification of Organic Substances (ERC) Approach.
As a result of this screening assessment, the Government concluded that diazenedicarboxamide is not harmful to human health or to the environment, at levels of exposure considered in the assessment.

This screening assessment summarized here focuses on diazenedicarboxamide. It was assessed under the Chemicals Management Plan.
Diazenedicarboxamide does not occur naturally in the environment.
According to information gathered by the Government, diazenedicarboxamide is used in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for building or construction materials. The substance was also reported in automotive manufacturing, and fabrication of floor coverings.
Diazenedicarboxamide is a permitted food additive, which may be used in bread flour and whole wheat flour under certain conditions.
Diazenedicarboxamide may also be used to manufacture certain food packaging materials, such as liners and gaskets; however, exposure is not expected as there is no direct contact with food.

Exposure of Canadians to residual levels of diazenedicarboxamide (small leftover amounts from the manufacturing process) in products available to consumers made using this substance, such as products containing foam or rubber is expected to be minimal.
Dietary exposure of Canadians to diazenedicarboxamide from its use as a food additive is expected to be negligible.
According to information under the ERC Approach, diazenedicarboxamide was identified as having a low ecological exposure potential.

To identify human health effects, international reports of data were considered. This included assessments by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Cooperative Chemicals Assessment Programme.This report was used to inform the health effects section of this screening assessment. The important critical effects identified for characterizing risk to human health were effects on the kidney.
Diazenedicarboxamide is on the European Chemicals Agency’s Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern for Authorisation because it is associated with respiratory sensitisation (that is, an immune system response to chemical exposure that can result in effects on breathing).
According to information considered under the ERC Approach, diazenedicarboxamide was identified as having a low ecological hazard potential.

On the basis of the information presented in this screening assessment, exposure of Canadians to diazenedicarboxamide is low, thus the risk to human health from diazenedicarboxamide is considered to be low.
Based upon the outcome of the ERC Approach, diazenedicarboxamide is considered unlikely to be causing ecological harm.
The Government of Canada published the Final Screening Assessment for Diazenedicarboxamide on January 16, 2021.

As a result of the screening assessment, the Government concluded that diazenedicarboxamide is not harmful to human health at levels of exposure considered in the assessment and that it is not entering the environment at levels that are harmful to the environment.

Diazenedicarboxamide may be found in products available to consumers. Canadians should follow any safety warnings and directions on product labels and dispose of products responsibly.
The screening assessment for diazenedicarboxamide focused on potential risks of exposure to the general population of Canada, rather than occupational exposure. The association between exposure to flour dust from activities such as mixing, pouring and weighing flour and occupational health effects is well documented in the scientific literature. Flour contains a variety of components, both naturally occurring and additives, which have been shown to trigger adverse reactions in some individuals who were regularly exposed in the workplace. Hazards related to chemicals used in the workplace are defined within the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System. For information concerning workplace health and safety and what steps to take in the workplace, Canadians should consult their employer and/or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulator in their jurisdiction.

2020-02-14