Final Screening Assessment Report Published for CMP-3 Phenol-Formaldehyde Resins Group
What You Need To Know
Substance
Phenol, polymer with formaldehyde
Formaldehyde, polymer with 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol
Formaldehyde, polymer with 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol, 4,4’-(1-methylethylidene)bis[phenol] and 4-methylphenol
Formaldehyde, polymer with N,N’-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and phenol
Formaldehyde, polymer with 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol and 4,4’-(1-methylethylidene)bis[phenol]
Formaldehyde, polymer with ammonia, 2-methylphenol and phenol
Cashew, nutshell liq., polymer with formaldehyde and phenol
Benzenesulfonic acid, hydroxy-, monosodium salt, polymer with formaldehyde and 4,4’-sulfonylbis[phenol]
CMP Action
Final Screening Assessment Report
Risk Assessment
Act or Regulation
CEPA
Existing Acts and Regulations
Policy or Program
Federal
Industry Impact
The final screening assessment report for phenol-formaldehyde resins concludes that none of the eight substances in the group meet the toxicity criteria under section 64 of CEPA. No follow-up activities are planned at this time. These substances are known to be used in the paint and ink industry.
Case Implication
Coatings, Adhesives, Sealants, and Elastomers
Poly-formaldehyde resins may be used in plastics and rubbers, paints/inks, coatings, printed circuit boards, electronics, and in the building/construction industry, oil and gas industry, metal industry, and by the toy industry as thermoset plastic.
Member Attention Required
Timeline
The 60 day comment period is open until February 10, 2021.
Pursuant to section 74 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA), the Minister of Environment and the Minister of Health have conducted a screening assessment of eight (8) substances referred to collectively as the Phenol-formaldehyde Resins Group.
Substances in this group were identified as priorities for assessment as they met categorization criteria under subsection 73(1) of CEPA.
| CAS RNa | DSL name | Acronyms |
|---|---|---|
| 9003-35-4 | Phenol, polymer with formaldehyde | PFR |
| 25085-50-1 | Formaldehyde, polymer with 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol | t-BPF |
| 26022-00-4 | Formaldehyde, polymer with 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol, 4,4′-(1-methylethylidene)bis[phenol] and 4-methylphenol | pC-BPA-tBPF |
| 32610-77-8 | Formaldehyde, polymer with N,N’-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and phenol | TETA-PF |
| 54579-44-1 | Formaldehyde, polymer with 4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol and 4,4′-(1-methylethylidene)bis[phenol] | BPA-tBPF |
| 55185-45-0 | Formaldehyde, polymer with ammonia, 2-methylphenol and phenol | oC-A-PF |
| 67700-42-9 | Cashew, nutshell liq., polymer with formaldehyde and phenol | CNSL-PF |
| 71832-81-0 | Benzenesulfonic acid, hydroxy-, monosodium salt, polymer with formaldehyde and 4,4′-sulfonylbis[phenol] | NaPS-BPSF |
These eight substances were previously evaluated under the Second Phase of Polymer Rapid Screening, which identified phenol-formaldehyde resins as having low potential to cause ecological harm. However, these substances were identified as requiring further assessment due to their potential human health risk on the basis of structural alerts and/or uses associated with significant consumer exposure.
Considering all available lines of evidence presented in this assessment, there is low risk of harm to the environment from phenol-formaldehyde resins.
It is concluded that these substances do not meet the criteria under paragraphs 64(a) or (b) of CEPA as they are not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or their biological diversity or that constitute or may constitute a danger to the environment on which life depends.
It is concluded that these substances likely present low or no risk of harm to human health as both direct exposure (oral, inhalation, dermal) and indirect exposure (through drinking water) of the general population to phenol-formaldehyde resins are not expected or are thought to be minimal. On the basis of the information presented in this screening assessment, it is concluded that phenol-formaldehyde resins do not meet the criteria under paragraph 64(c) of CEPA.
Therefore, it is concluded that all eight substances in the Phenol-formaldehyde Resins Group do not meet any of the criteria set out in section 64 of CEPA.