The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has conducted an extensive review of the regulatory needs for hydroxyphenyl benzotriazoles. This assessment aims to determine whether further regulatory risk management actions are necessary to address potential hazards associated with these substances.
Substance Overview
Hydroxyphenyl benzotriazoles are a group of chemicals identified by their structural similarity. These substances are primarily used as UV filters or stabilising agents in a wide range of products. They are commonly found in coatings, paints, polymer preparations, adhesives, sealants, ink, toners, cosmetics, personal care products, perfumes, and cleaning products.
Regulatory Assessment and Substance Grouping
ECHA grouped these substances based on their structural similarities and potential hazardous properties. The group initially included 43 substances, with the final count being 35 after removing duplicates. Out of these, 21 substances have full registrations, while others are registered as intermediates or are not registered at all.
Identified Substances and Hazards
The review identified several substances within this group that pose potential or confirmed hazards. These hazards include reproductive toxicity, specific target organ toxicity (STOT RE), and environmental persistence (PBT/vPvB). Four substances (UV-320, UV-327, UV-328, UV-350) have been included in Annex XIV of REACH, making them subject to authorisation due to their PBT/vPvB properties.
Proposed Regulatory Actions
ECHA recommends a series of regulatory actions based on the identified hazards:
- Compliance Check (CCH) and Substance Evaluation (SEv): For substances with potential hazards, ECHA proposes further data generation and evaluation. This includes confirming the PBT/vPvB properties and potential reproductive toxicity of these substances.
- Harmonised Classification and Labelling (CLH): Once hazards are confirmed, substances will undergo harmonised classification to ensure appropriate risk communication and management measures.
- Restriction and Authorisation: If the hazards are confirmed, restrictions on the use of these substances, particularly in consumer and professional products, are proposed to minimise environmental release and human exposure.
Uses and Exposure Potential
The substances in this group are widely used in industrial, professional, and consumer products. Common uses include:
- Coatings and Paints: Used to stabilise and protect surfaces from UV radiation.
- Polymer Preparations: Incorporated into plastics and polymers to enhance durability.
- Adhesives and Sealants: Used to improve the longevity and stability of products.
- Ink and Toners: Included to prevent degradation of printed materials.
- Cosmetics and Personal Care Products: Used for their UV filtering properties in products such as sunscreens and skincare items.
- Perfumes and Fragrances: Added to protect scents from UV-induced degradation.
- Cleaning Products: Utilised for their stabilising properties.
These widespread uses lead to significant potential for environmental release and human exposure. Professional uses, often non-contained and non-automated, pose a higher risk of environmental release. Consumer products containing these substances may also contribute to environmental and human exposure.
