Environmental Review, 15/2004 – List of Undesirable Substances 2004

List of Undesirable Substances 2004

Preface

List of Undesirable Substances

The first List of Undesirable Substances (LOUS) was published in 1998. Already at that time, it was decided that the monitoring and providing information on the most problematic substances were to be carried out on an ongoing basis. Therefore, a first revised list was published in 2000, and in 2003 work was commenced on another revision of the LOUS.

The new, revised LOUS is now available. Compared to the previous lists, the criteria for the selection of substances for the list have been changed. This means that a number of chemical substances or substance groups are no longer on the LOUS. These substances/substance groups are listed in Appendix D. A number of criteria are no longer used in the systematic selection. These are listed in Appendix E. As a consequence of the new criteria, a number of substances are on the list for the first time. These are listed in Appendix F. The new selection criteria and the reason for removing from the list some of the original criteria, and consequently substances and substance groups, are described in further detail in the chapter on selection criteria.

It must be emphasised that the LOUS is not exhaustive, as new knowledge, changed patterns of consumption and new international initiatives are constantly emerging. This means that the LOUS must also be periodically updated in the future.

If they are used for commercial purposes in Denmark, dangerous chemical substances and products must be reported to the Danish Product Register. Manufacturers and importers are obliged to update this information when changes occur. The data from the Danish Product Register formed the basis for the selection of substances for the list.

List of Effects

The List of Effects formed the basis for the List of Undesirable Substances. The List of Effects comprises approx. 6,400 substances selected on the basis of the criteria described in Chapter 1. The substances have been extracted from the List of Dangerous Substances (2002), the EU list of substances with documented endocrine-disrupting effects that have been prioritised for further testing, high-tonnage substances suspected in the EU of having PBT and vPvB ^[1] characteristics, and the Danish EPA's Advisory List for Self-classification of Dangerous Substances.

On the basis of the List of Effects and with assistance from the Danish Product Register, the substances on the List of Effects that are today used in Denmark as well as the amount used have been identified. On the basis of these data, the final List of Undesirable Substances has been prepared.

The new List of Effects is published as a separate document.

The List of Undesirable Substances is a signal list

Thus, the LOUS should be considered as both a signal to, and a guideline for, manufacturers, product developers, purchasers and other players with regard to chemicals, the use of which should either be reduced or stopped in the long term. This could be achieved by those companies involved that on the basis of the LOUS, take initiative to substitute the problematic substances themselves.

When substituting one substance for another, it is always vital to ensure that, in addition to determining whether the alternative is actually technically applicable, the substitute is less dangerous to the environment and health than the substance it replaces, even if the substitute is not included on the List of Undesirable Substances. Every effort should be made to use alternatives, the effects of which have been studied and documented. It is also important to be aware of whether or not the environmental and health effects of the substitute will be of any significance in relation to the product in which it will be used as well as the consumption pattern and consequently the users' exposure to the product.

Who can use the LOUS?

Under the right conditions the LOUS can be used by corporate product developers, by professional purchasers when making environment-friendly purchases and by others who are interested in how chemical substances are used in products.

The use of the LOUS does, however, presume a certain level of professional expertise in environmental matters and chemistry, before the user is able to assess the use of the substances in products, the properties of any alternatives and their suitability, etc.

The Danish EPA 2004

Footnotes

[1] PBT substances are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances, while vPvB substances are very persistent and very bioaccumulative substances.