EPA Releases 24 HHCB Studies Behind Draft Risk Evaluation, Opens 30-Day Comment Period Through Dec. 16
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Nov. 13 the availability of 24 studies considered in the agency's draft risk evaluation for HHCB, also known as galaxolide, under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and opened a 30-day public comment period on the newly available materials.
HHCB is a synthetic musk used widely in fragrances and in household products such as detergents, cleaners and air fresheners. EPA said that because the chemical is used so broadly, its review needs to reflect the full body of available science and give the public an opportunity to review the same information the agency used in its draft assessment.
During the public comment period for the draft HHCB risk evaluation, EPA identified an administrative issue in its Health and Environmental Research Online, or HERO, database that temporarily made 24 industry-submitted studies inaccessible to the public. The studies had already been considered in the draft evaluation. EPA resolved the issue on Oct. 14, 2026, and the studies are now publicly available in HERO.
To ensure the public has an opportunity to review the newly available materials, EPA is opening a 30-day comment period. Interested persons may review the studies in the context of the draft HHCB risk evaluation and submit comments. The comment period is limited to the newly available materials and does not reopen the entire draft risk evaluation.
EPA said it remains committed to transparency and to using the best available science in its TSCA risk evaluations, and that it will carefully consider any comments received on the newly available studies as it works to finalize the HHCB risk evaluation. Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, a list of the 24 studies will be included in the HHCB Data Availability Memorandum in docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0430. The public comment period will close on Dec. 16, 2026.
(Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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