U.S. EPA, Answers to Your Questions About the TSCA §8(c) Rule (1984) (pamphlet) (ELR Order No. AD-488)
| Author | Carolyne R. Hathaway/William K. Rawson/Ann Claassen/Julia A. Hatcher |
| Pages | 587-588 |
Brochure: Answers to Your Questions About the TSCA §8(c) Rule Page 587
Brochure: Answers to Your Questions
About the TSCA §8(c) Rule
EPA
undated
Answers to Your Que stions About the TSCA Sec-
tion 8(c) Rule
As required by the law, EPA has dened “signic ant
adverse reactions to huma n health or the environment,
as follows:
Signicant adverse re actions are reactions that may
indicate substantia l impairment of normal activities
or long-lasting or irreversible dam age to health or the
environment.
Examples of signic ant adverse reactions to human
health include:
• Long lasting or ir reversible damage, such as
cancer or birth defe cts.
• Partial or complete impai rment of bodily func-
tions, such as blood, reproductive, or neuro -
logical disorders.
• An impairment of normal a ctivities, which
is experienced by al l or most of the persons
exposed at one time.
• An impairment of normal a ctivities, which is
experienced each ti me an individual is exposed.
Examples of signic ant adverse reactions to the envi-
ronment include:
• Gradual or sudden chang es in the composition
of animal or plant li fe in an area.
• An abnormal number of deat hs of organisms
(e.g., sh kills).
• A reduction of the reproductive success or v igor
of a species.
• A reduction in agricultu ral productivity,
whether crops or livestock.
• Alterations in the behav ior or distribution of a
species.
• Long lasting or ir reversible contamination of
components of the physical environment such
as groundwater or soil.
e Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) wa s signed
into law in October 1976. e purpose of TSCA is
to ensure that chemica l substances and mixture s are
regulated in a ma nner that ensures that they do not
present an unreasonable ri sk of injury to health or t he
environment.
is brochure provides a su mmary of the major provi-
sions of EPA’s TSC A Section 8(c) nal rule, 4 0 CFR
717, wh ich was published in its entire ty in the August
22, 1983 Federal Register, Volume 48, Page 38178, and
became eect ive on November 21, 1983.
It was the intent of Congress when it passe d the Toxic
Substances Control Act ( TSCA) that the public be
made aware of potential ha zards to human health and
the environment, and of the action to ta ke if exposure
takes place. is brochure has been developed to help
inform you about this new TSC A 8(c) rule.
If you have questions beyond those covered here, plea se
contact the TSCA A ssistance Oce:
Long Distance: (800) 424 -9065
Washington, DC: (202) 554-1404
About the 8(c) Rule
EPA has issued a regulat ion that will, for the rst
time, require the chemic al industry to keep records
of alleged “signica nt adverse reactions” to chemical
substances and m ixtures. is is being done under the
authority of Section 8(c) of the Toxic Substances Con-
trol Act (TSCA).
e Rule requires the chemic al industry to keep these
allegations on record for th irty (30) years in the case
of employee health, and for ve (5) years in al l other
cases. EPA can insp ect such records and require that
the industry repor t the information contained in such
records to the Agency.
What Is an Allegation?
A worker on a new chemical process l ine tells his
supervisor that he is e xperiencing spells of hand trem-
ors and blurred vision while on the job. He thin ks the
problem is caused by the vapors he breathes i n while
relling a mi xing tank. His supervi sor asks him to ll
out and sign a brief form describing his problem. e
worker does so. is is an 8(c) allegation.
Briey, an allegation is a statement of an i ndividual ’s
belief that a chemica l substance, mixture, etc., ha s
caused harm to hi m, another person, or to the environ-
ment. But he is not required to provide proof or evi-
dence of the adverse reaction.
e TSCA Section 8(c) rule denes a n allegation as a
“statement made without formal proof or regard for
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