EPA Targets Five Chemicals Linked to Cancer in Major Crackdown on Plastics, Review Process to Begin Next Year.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is prioritizing risk evaluations for five chemicals, primarily used to make plastics, which have already been linked to increased cancer risk. The process will begin in a year and potentially lead to the agency launching a 3 ½-year review process that could result in a ban or restrict uses of these chemicals if deemed unsafe. Each chemical has been designated as a “high priority” substance under the Toxic Substances Control Act under the act. The announcement signals a larger effort by the EPA to crack down on plastics. The review process will determine if specific uses, like vinyl chloride in PVC pipes, plastic packaging or other consumer products, pose health risks. The decision is seen as a victory for advocates like Judith Enck, former Obama-era EPA regional administrator and founder of Beyond Plastics, who have collected over 30,000 signatures calling for a ban on vinyl chloride.