Welcome to a shorter than normal edition of the
CEF Bulletin. The CEF met in Melbourne on May 16 2008,
and then attended the HAZMAT Conference, the following
two days.

HAZMAT Conference

Melbourne, May 2008

Several of the conference presenters spoke on chemicals regulation in Australia – how regulation evolved, current issues, and perspectives on how the regulatory system should operate. NICNAS Director, Dr Marion Healy, outlined the organisation’s recent major review and reform activities. 

CEF member Jane Bremmer painted a damning picture of what can happen when cross agency regulation fails. In 2007 the Esperance community was exposed to an uncontrolled release of lead carbonate, which was transported nine hundred kilometres from Wiluna to Esperance. The incident was only discovered when locals reported thousands of dead birds. Both the environment and human health were adversely impacted by the exposure to lead carbonate. 

Of particular interest was the final presentation on practical protocols for nanoparticles of concern.  While there is an undisputed need for much more research in this area, enough is already known to immediately implement controls to minimise worker exposure in the first instance. According to Associate Professor Paul Wright, RMIT, the hazard and exposure levels of nanoparticles, their long-term effects and their effects on the eco-system are ‘poorly understood’; consequently there is an urgent need to develop an appropriate risk management strategy.

Phthalates Update

NICNAS is currently conducting risk assessments on phthalates, including those phthalates in use in children’s toys and childcare articles in Australia. Hazard assessments on 25 phthalates were released on June 16 and are available from the NICNAS website. 

Phthalates are used as plasticisers (or softeners) in PVC products and are used in clothes, medical products, PVC building products, toys and children’s articles and food packaging.

By overwhelming majority, EU Parliament, banned three phthalates for use in children’s toys and childcare articles and restricted the use of another three for toys and childcare articles that can be put in the mouth. This 2005 decision applied the precautionary principle, to protect the health of European children.
 
These six phthalates are among those assessed by NICNAS.

There are more than 100 phthalates on the Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS), and NICNAS has identified that 25 of these are currently used in high volumes in Australia. With previous studies linking phthalates to endocrine disruption, reprotoxicity, carcinogenicity and mutagenicity, the CEF believes that targeting phthalates assessments for use in toys and childcare articles in Australia is overdue, in order to protect the health of Australian children.

Now available to download from the NICNAS website:
- the 25 Phthalates Hazard assessments
- the Phthalates Compendium, and
- the Phthalates Information Sheet.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity

The Office of Chemical Safety (OCS) has advised that the report A Scientific Review of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: Identifying Key Research Needs has been finalised for public review.
 
In our first Bulletin about 15 months ago the CEF advised, based upon the information available to us at the time, that "the Office of Chemical Safety (OCS) and NICNAS are currently undertaking a review of MCS and are about to embark on a public engagement program". We are aware of significant concerns resulting from the non-appearance of the report in the intervening period, and we understand these concerns.
 
CEF was given the opportunity to provide comments on two drafts of the Report, and did so, in particular on some of the language used in it, but has not been otherwise involved in the process.  Pending further information from OCS, CEF resolved at its May meeting to keep a watching brief on the process.
 
OCS has further advised:
- there will be a pre-release briefing for MCS interest groups prior to the general public release of the report; and
- the report will be released shortly thereafter with a 'correction' phase; ie. an opportunity to correct any factual errors.
 
If you represent an MCS interest group and would like to participate in a pre-release briefing, please contact the CEF, including any conditions necessary to facilitate your participation.  We will forward all information to OCS.

Chemical Safety Forum

One of the recommendations from the Existing Chemicals Review was that “NICNAS continue to participate in chemicals managemewnt forums to ensure harmonised and streamlined regulation of industrial chemicals at the national level”.  To progress this recommendation, the CEF and NICNAS have begun to plan what we are calling a “Chemicals Safety Forum” which will also have the function of increasing community awareness of national chemicals issues. 

While discussions are still at a very preliminary stage, it is envisaged that the forum will provide an opportunity to share information, be open to everyone and include a number of different government agencies. We would like to see the forum held in a number of locations around Australia. The CEF invites you to send in any ideas, both about the content and format of such a forum and suggested locations.