List of undesirable substances 2000
2. Reader's guide
Subdivision of the LOUS
In the LOUS, each substance/group of substances is shown on a data sheet which contains various information fields. The content of these fields is explained below.
CAS No
A unique number assigned to a chemical substance by the Chemical Abstract Service. Apart from the fact that these numbers are unique to each individual compound, they have no other significance.
EINECS No.
The substance's EU number. The EINECS numbers of the dangerous substances included on the European Inventory of Existing Commercial Chemical Substances (Einecs, OJ No. C 146A, 15. 6. 1990) are given in this field.
Synonym
The trivial or popular names of certain substances are shown.
Product groups
These fields state selected product groups in which the relevant substances, the use of which can constitute a special problem, are included. It is important here to note that the information to which the Danish EPA is referring has been taken from Department of Data on Chemical Products, National Working Environment Authority (formerly the Product Register Department (National Institute of Occupational Health, Denmark)) which, in turn, receives its information from manufacturers and importers. The importers and manufacturers of dangerous chemicals are obliged to report the quantities and functions of the chemicals they use or in which they trade.
It is also important to note that the LOUS's information on the fields of application of the individual chemicals is not exhaustive. It can very well be the case that a given substance is used in product groups other than those mentioned. Further, it is important to be aware that a listed substance is not necessarily problematical in all of the applications in which it is used. If a substance is primarily used in a closed system from which it cannot escape, it is often less problematical than if it comes into direct contact with humans or if there is a risk of it being released into the environment.
Chemical substances that are only used as pesticides have not been included as they are within the scope of an approval scheme. Certain biocidal products are listed, which either are or will be embraced by an approval scheme, but which also have other applications.
Reason for selection
Chemical substances and products can be hazardous to human beings and the environment throughout their entire life cycle, i.e. from the time of manufacture to their use and disposal. A substance could, thus, have been selected because it has undesirable properties in general and/or because it is considered to be a problematical in specific contexts, such as in the waste cycle or in the marine environment. Moreover, a substance can be selected, for instance, on the basis of a Danish political decision on phase-out.
If a substance has been selected on the basis of its classification, this means that it is classified on the List of dangerous substances because of its particularly serious effects on the health and environment.
Such effects include:
 | high acute or chronic toxicity |
| carcinogenicity |
| ability to cause heritable genetic damage |
| ability to impair fertility |
| ability to induce allergy |
| environmental impact. |
If a substance has been selected on the basis of computerised assessment, this indicates that its effects are considered to be especially serious from the ecotoxicological standpoint. These substances have been identified with the aid of computerised assessment techniques (QSAR). Such substances are designated on the LOUS as being hazardous to the aquatic environment.
Finally, certain substances have been selected for supplementary reasons, because they are problematical in the marine environment, in waste disposal, for the climate or for ground water.
Goals
These fields state the Danish EPA's specific goals and activities for restricting the use of the substances that have been given special priority.
Classification
These fields state the danger categories and risk phrases assigned to substances on the List of Undesirable Substances /1/.
Present regulation
These fields indicate whether or not a substance is covered by regulations on restricted application or other restriction initiatives, such as voluntary phase-out agreements with the industry. Furthermore, they indicate whether or not quality criteria or limit values have been defined for soil, air or watercourses, lakes and the sea. These fields also include references to any special working-environment regulations for working with a substance. All substances are, moreover, subject to a number of general working-environment regulations (see "References" at the end of this report). Finally, there can be references to some other form of regulation, for instance, a surcharge on a substance.
The specific regulations are shown in "References".
Activities
For each listed substance, the activities which have already been implemented or started, or which are being contemplated within the forseeable future, are also shown.