Risk Evaluation for Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP)

In September 2024, EPA released the final risk evaluation for tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP).

Find other information about other chemicals undergoing risk evaluations under TSCA.

On this page:

Risk Evaluation Findings
Background on TCEP
Uses of TCEP
Recent Activities and Opportunities for Public Comment
Risk Evaluation and Supporting Documents

Risk Evaluation Findings

EPA reviewed the exposures and hazards of TCEP uses and made risk findings on this chemical substance. EPA considered relevant risk-related factors, including, but not limited to: the hazards and exposure, magnitude of risk, exposed population, severity of the hazard, and uncertainties, as part of its unreasonable risk determination.

EPA has determined that TCEP poses an unreasonable risk of injury to human health and the environment. TCEP has the potential to cause kidney cancer, damage the nervous system and kidneys, and harm fertility.

EPA assessed TCEP exposure to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations (PESS), like workers, pregnant women, infants that breastfeed, children, people living in fenceline communities near facilities that emit TCEP, and people and Tribes whose diets include large amounts of fish. EPA identified health risks for PESS, including neurological effects, reproductive effects, developmental effects, kidney effects, and cancer from exposure to TCEP.

EPA found that TCEP presents unreasonable risk of kidney cancer and noncancer health effects to workers and consumers. EPA determined that seven out of 21 conditions of use of TCEP contribute significantly to the unreasonable risk to workers:

Manufacturing imports;
Paint and coating manufacturing;
Polymers used in aerospace equipment and products;
Aerospace equipment and products and automotive articles and replacement parts containing TCEP;
Paints and coatings for industrial use;
Paints and coatings for commercial use; and
Laboratory chemicals.

EPA found unreasonable risk to consumers from three out of 21 conditions of use: fabric and textile products; foam seating and bedding products; and wood and engineered wood products. Consumers are most at risk when they breathe or ingest dust from TCEP that comes off of fabrics, textiles, foam and wood products.

EPA found unreasonable risks for people who eat large amounts of fish contaminated with TCEP. The chemical can accumulate in fish if they live in a stream or other waterbody with high concentrations of TCEP. These concerns are particularly notable for groups that eat higher quantities of fish, such as subsistence fishers and Tribes.

EPA assessed the impact of TCEP on aquatic and terrestrial species and found that TCEP poses unreasonable risk to aquatic species like fish and aquatic invertebrates.

EPA will now move forward on risk management to address the unreasonable risk presented by TCEP. EPA will release a proposed rule under TSCA section 6 to protect people and the environment from the risks EPA identified.

Background on TCEP

TCEP (CASRN 115-96-8) is a colorless liquid. The primary use for TCEP is as a flame retardant and plasticizer in polymers used in aerospace equipment and products, and as a flame retardant in paint and coating manufacturing. Information from the 2016 Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) for TCEP indicates the reported production volume was 39,682 lbs/year. While no companies reported the manufacture (including import) of TCEP in the United States from 2016 to 2020, the reporting threshold for TCEP in CDR is 25,000 lb and some manufacturing could be occurring below that threshold.

Uses of TCEP

In the final scope of the risk evaluation, EPA identified conditions of use associated with the importing; processing; distribution in commerce; industrial, commercial and consumer uses; and disposal of TCEP, for example:

As a flame retardant in paint and coating manufacturing, polymers, and articles;
In industrial and commercial aircraft interiors and aerospace products;
For laboratory chemicals; and
In commercial and consumer products, including paints and coatings, fabric and textile, products, foam seating, and construction materials.

Recent Activities and Opportunities for Public Comment

In December 2023, EPA released the draft risk evaluation for this chemical for public comment and letter peer review. EPA accepted public comments on the draft risk evaluation for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0265 at www.regulations.gov.

In June 2023, EPA proposed a Significant New Use Rule, which would ensure that no one could begin a significant new use of this chemical without a complete EPA review and risk determination. Learn More.

In August 2020, EPA published a final scope document outlining the hazards, exposures, conditions of use, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations the agency expects to consider in its risk evaluation. The agency released the draft scope in April 2020 and took public comments on the draft document.

In December 2019, EPA designated TCEP as a high-priority substance for the risk evaluation following the TSCA prioritization process.

Read the final scope of the risk evaluation for this chemical and EPA’s response to comments on the draft scope.

Stay up to date on additional opportunities for public participation. You can stay informed by signing up for our email alerts or checking the public docket at EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0265 at www.regulations.gov.

As EPA begins the risk management process, there will be opportunities for public comment.

Learn about the risk management process.

Risk Evaluation and Supporting Documents

Read the Federal Register notice.