Risk Management for Carbon Tetrachloride
Below is information on EPA actions to manage the unreasonable risk from carbon tetrachloride (CTC). CTC is a solvent used in commercial settings as a raw material for producing other chemicals like refrigerants, chlorinated compounds, and agricultural products. There are no consumer uses of this chemical.
On this page:
On other pages:
- Learn how EPA manages unreasonable risks from chemicals currently on the market.
- View a list of all chemicals undergoing risk evaluation, including docket numbers and agency points of contact.
Managing Risks from Carbon Tetrachloride
In July 2023, EPA proposed to ban uses of CTC that have been phased out and establish a workplace chemical protection program (WCCP) for uses not prohibited to address the unreasonable risk to human health.
EPA’s proposal would:
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Prohibit several uses of CTC that have already been phased out.
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Create strict workplace protections to ensure that for the remaining uses, workers will not be harmed by CTC use.
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Require manufacturers (including importers), processors, and distributors to notify companies to whom CTC is shipped of the prohibitions and to keep records.
The WCPP would include an existing chemical exposure limit (ECEL) of 0.03 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average to address risk from inhalation exposure in combination with direct dermal contact controls for several conditions of use, which account for essentially all of the production volume of CTC. For laboratory use, EPA is proposing to require use of a fume hood and personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect skin.
As described in the 2022 revised unreasonable risk determination for CTC, two conditions of uses do not drive the unreasonable risk: distribution in commerce and processing as a reactant/intermediate in reactive ion etching. EPA is not proposing any restrictions for the processing of CTC as a reactant/intermediate in reactive ion etching.
The proposed risk management rule is based on EPA’s November 2020 TSCA Section 6 Risk Evaluation, as amended by the December 2022 final revised risk determination for CTC.
In the final revised risk determination, EPA determined that CTC presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health under its conditions of use. The unreasonable risk determination was driven by 13 of the 15 conditions of use EPA evaluated.
Opportunities for Public and Stakeholder Engagement
EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for CTC until September 11, 2023, following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0592 at www.regulations.gov. To submit a comment, first navigate to the docket in regulations.gov. Then click “Browse Documents” to view the proposed risk management rule. Click on the “Comment” button to submit your comment.
- View a list of all public and stakeholder engagement opportunities related to risk management.
- You can reach out to the EPA point of contact for this chemical, listed at the top, right of this page, for more information or to schedule a one-on-one meeting.
- You can also stay informed by signing for our email alerts or checking the public docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0592 at www.regulations.gov.
Past Meetings, Webinars, and Other Engagement Opportunities
EPA hosted a webinar on August 15, 2023 about the proposed risk management rule. View the materials for the webinar.
EPA held two identical consultation webinars, one on February 2, 2020 and the other on February 18, 2020 to consult with environmental justice communities on risk management for HBCD and CTC. View the consultation materials.
EPA did not receive any self-nominations for a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel for the CTC rulemaking. Therefore, EPA does not plan to conduct an SBAR panel for this rulemaking.
On December 10, 2020, EPA held a webinar on the TSCA risk management process and the findings in the final risk evaluation for CTC. View the meeting materials.