Final Risk Evaluation for Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster (HBCD)

In June 2022, EPA released a final revised risk determination for HBCD as a whole chemical substance. This revision supersedes the previous condition of use-specific risk determinations in the 2020 HBCD risk evaluation (and withdraws the associated order). These chemical-specific changes are in accordance with the path forward for the first 10 risk evaluations under TSCA laid out by EPA in June 2021.

The final revised risk determination does not assume that all workers exposed to HBCD always or properly wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

The same six conditions of use continue to drive the unreasonable risk determination for HBCD. However, four of the six conditions of use that drove the unreasonable risks to the environment also drive health risks to workers after removing the assumption of PPE. The final revised risk determination finds that HBCD presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health and the environment when evaluated under its conditions of use.

Read the federal register notice.

Read the final revised HBCD risk determination.

Read the Response to Public Comments to the draft revised Unreasonable Risk Determination for HBCD.

On this page:

Risk evaluation findings
Using products safely and alternatives
Next steps and public participation
Final risk evaluation and supporting documents

On other pages:

Risk Evaluation Findings

In June 2022, EPA released a final revised risk determination for HBCD. The final revised risk determination finds that HBCD presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health and the environment when evaluated under its conditions of use.

In the September 2020 risk evaluation, EPA reviewed the exposures and hazards of HBCD conditions of use and made risk findings on this chemical. This risk evaluation includes input from the public and peer reviewers as required by TSCA and associated regulations. EPA considered the hazards and exposure, magnitude of risk, exposed population, severity of the hazard, uncertainties, and other factors as part of its unreasonable risk determination.

EPA determined that HBCD presents unreasonable risk to the environment. The agency assessed the impact of HBCD on aquatic and sediment-dwelling species through surface water and sediment exposures, and to terrestrial species. After reviewing these data, EPA found that risk from import, processing, recycling, commercial use, and disposal of HBCD drive the whole chemical determination of unreasonable risk to the environment.

EPA determined that HBCD presents unreasonable risk to human health. The agency assessed the impact of HBCD on workers, the general population, and consumers. EPA determined unreasonable risk to workers from the use of HBCD from both short- and long-term inhalation exposure when personal protective equipment (such as respirators) is not used. Risk from import, processing, commercial use, and disposal of HBCD drive the whole chemical determination of unreasonable risk to human health.

Using Products Safely and Alternatives

While EPA works through the process required by TSCA to address the unreasonable risk found from HBCD, the information below provides ways to reduce exposure.

For any chemical product, EPA strongly recommends that users carefully follow all instructions on the product’s label. For example, labels on products containing HBCD may state that the product should be used only with adequate ventilation. The labels may also instruct users to move to fresh air if they feel unwell and contact their physician.

Workers using products containing HBCD should continue to follow label instructions and applicable workplace regulations and should properly use appropriate personal protective equipment.

Next Steps and Public Participation

EPA will propose and take public comments on a risk management action to address the unreasonable risk identified in the risk evaluation, as updated with the final revised risk determination. EPA’s proposed regulation could include requirements on how the chemical is commercially used, or limiting or prohibiting the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, commercial use, or disposal of this chemical substance, as applicable.

Stay up to date on additional opportunities for public participation. Just like the risk evaluation process, there will be opportunities for public comment as EPA works to propose and finalize any risk management action for HBCD. You can stay informed by signing up for our email alerts or checking the public docket at EPA-HQ-OPPT-2019-0237 at www.regulations.gov.

Final Risk Evaluation and Supporting Documents

Below are the final revised risk determination, final risk evaluation for HBCD, non-technical summary, response to comments, and other supporting documents.

The discussion of the issues in the final revision to the risk determination supersedes any conflicting statements in the prior HBCD risk evaluation and the response to comments document.