The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has added seven chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHC) to the candidate list.

Five of the SVHCs have been identified as carcinogenic, namely cadmium hydroxide, cadmium carbonate, cadmium nitrate, chrysene and benz[a]anthracene. The latter two chemicals are not intentionally produced but rather occur as a constituent or impurity in other substances.

Reaction products of 1,3,4-thiadiazolidine-2,5-dithione, formaldehyde and 4-heptylphenol, both branched and linear, which are used as an additive in lubricants and greases, were classified as having endocrine disrupting properties.

Lastly, polychlorinated flame retardant Dechlorane Plus, has been included on the list because of its very persistent and very bioaccumulative properties.

The list of SVHCs for authorization now contains 181 substances. Once they are on the authorization list, companies will need to apply for permission to continue using the substances after the sunset date.

As reported earlier – almost simultaneously with the European Parliament’s rejection of a full ban on bisphenol A (BPA), ECHA also updated the entry for the chemical used in production of polycarbonate and epoxy resins – to reflect its endocrine disrupting properties in the environment. BPA is already on the SVHC candidate list for being toxic to reproduction and possessing endocrine disrupting properties for humans.