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Crosslinking agent feared to be carcinogen
December 1995
Additives for Polymers
EU confirms restrictions on cadmium pigments Restrictions on the use of cadmium-based pigments will be harmonized between the different countries of the European Commission (EC) from 1 January. A Directive has been adopted by the EC which does not ban the use of these materials but limits their use. For example, cadmium-based pigments may not be used in plastics materials where there are other satisfactory substitutes. The Commission has confirmed, however, that no other restrictions will be imposed for the next three years, during which time it is planned to carry out a detailed risk assessment. Polypropylene and polystyrene are specifically listed as polymers where non-cadmium pigments must be used where possible. Other polymers where there is a restriction include thermoplastic polyesters, polymethyl methacrylate, cross-linked polyethylene and melamine, urea and polyester resins. Contact: CEFIC, Ave. E Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, Bte 2, 1160 Brussels, Belgium. Tel: -t 32-2-676-72-11; Fax: +32-2-676-73-01.
Crosslinking agent feared to be carcinogen A widely-used crosslinking agent for plastics and rubber is under scrutiny by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in connection with a report of a cluster of fatalities among workers in a factory due to bladder cancer. Ahead of the study, HSE proposed that methylene bis-o-chloroaniline (MbOCA) should be listed as a Category 1 carcinogen, but the British Rubber Manufacturers’ Association claims that the findings have yet to be confirmed independently and calls for full details of the report to be published as soon as possible
01995
Elsevier
Science
Ltd
The report was commissioned by rubber product manufacturers Hickson and Welch when four out of 87 employees who had worked closely with MbOCA prior to 1977 died of bladder cancer. No problems have been found in employees after 1977, when it introduced new handling for the chemical. MbOCA is used by a limited number of specialist rubber moulding companies, but it is feared that it may be difficult to find a substitute material at the same cost-performance. Contact: British Rubber Manufacturers’Association, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AK. Tel: +44-181-996-9000; Fax: +44-181-996-7400.
French authorities approve Forane 141 b as blowing agent The French public health administration (Counseil superieur d’hygiene publique de France) has recently expressed a favourable opinion on the use of Forane 14 1b as a blowing agent for rigid polyurethane foams for refrigerators/freezers. This is the only product to have been granted this official approval to date. This is the conclusion of more than five years of studies carried out by Elf Atochem with different partners to check that, within the framework of the present regulations, Forane 14 1b can fully meet users’ requirements. The studies have demonstrated that this nonflammable product has toxicological characteristics which allow its use in existing industrial facilities and, in particular, in refrigerator wall panels. It has physical properties leading to a thermal insulation efficiency which is higher than other industrial processes. Contact: Elf A tochem SA, 4 tours Michele t, La Defense 10, F-92091 Paris La Defense, Cedex 42, France. Tel: t 33-4900-8080; Fax: +33-4900-8396.
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Additives for Polymers
EU confirms restrictions on cadmium pigments Restrictions on the use of cadmium-based pigments will be harmonized between the different countries of the European Commission (EC) from 1 January. A Directive has been adopted by the EC which does not ban the use of these materials but limits their use. For example, cadmium-based pigments may not be used in plastics materials where there are other satisfactory substitutes. The Commission has confirmed, however, that no other restrictions will be imposed for the next three years, during which time it is planned to carry out a detailed risk assessment. Polypropylene and polystyrene are specifically listed as polymers where non-cadmium pigments must be used where possible. Other polymers where there is a restriction include thermoplastic polyesters, polymethyl methacrylate, cross-linked polyethylene and melamine, urea and polyester resins. Contact: CEFIC, Ave. E Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, Bte 2, 1160 Brussels, Belgium. Tel: -t 32-2-676-72-11; Fax: +32-2-676-73-01.
Crosslinking agent feared to be carcinogen A widely-used crosslinking agent for plastics and rubber is under scrutiny by the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), in connection with a report of a cluster of fatalities among workers in a factory due to bladder cancer. Ahead of the study, HSE proposed that methylene bis-o-chloroaniline (MbOCA) should be listed as a Category 1 carcinogen, but the British Rubber Manufacturers’ Association claims that the findings have yet to be confirmed independently and calls for full details of the report to be published as soon as possible
01995
Elsevier
Science
Ltd
The report was commissioned by rubber product manufacturers Hickson and Welch when four out of 87 employees who had worked closely with MbOCA prior to 1977 died of bladder cancer. No problems have been found in employees after 1977, when it introduced new handling for the chemical. MbOCA is used by a limited number of specialist rubber moulding companies, but it is feared that it may be difficult to find a substitute material at the same cost-performance. Contact: British Rubber Manufacturers’Association, 389 Chiswick High Road, London W4 4AK. Tel: +44-181-996-9000; Fax: +44-181-996-7400.
French authorities approve Forane 141 b as blowing agent The French public health administration (Counseil superieur d’hygiene publique de France) has recently expressed a favourable opinion on the use of Forane 14 1b as a blowing agent for rigid polyurethane foams for refrigerators/freezers. This is the only product to have been granted this official approval to date. This is the conclusion of more than five years of studies carried out by Elf Atochem with different partners to check that, within the framework of the present regulations, Forane 14 1b can fully meet users’ requirements. The studies have demonstrated that this nonflammable product has toxicological characteristics which allow its use in existing industrial facilities and, in particular, in refrigerator wall panels. It has physical properties leading to a thermal insulation efficiency which is higher than other industrial processes. Contact: Elf A tochem SA, 4 tours Michele t, La Defense 10, F-92091 Paris La Defense, Cedex 42, France. Tel: t 33-4900-8080; Fax: +33-4900-8396.
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