On September 4, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the draft Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk assessment for 1,2-dichloropropane (DCP, CAS No. 78-87-5) and inviting public comments, with a comment deadline of November 3, 2026.
Background
1,2-Dichloropropane is a colorless, volatile liquid with a chloroform-like odor, produced primarily as a byproduct. Citing the 2024 Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) results, EPA indicated that U.S. national production volume is approximately 100 to 250 million pounds, with potential imports as well. Its industrial and commercial uses include processing as a reactant, laboratory chemicals, and cleaning and furniture care products. Although volatile, the substance is water-soluble and miscible with most organic solvents; once released into air, water, soil, and sediment, it is persistent, with degradation taking from months to years.
Assessment Findings
Under the TSCA Section 6(b) framework, EPA evaluated 15 "conditions of use" (COUs), covering the full life cycle from manufacture, processing, distribution, industrial/commercial/consumer use through disposal. Preliminary conclusions are summarized below.
|
Population |
Preliminary Risk Determination |
Key Drivers |
|
Workers |
11 COUs present significant risk |
Primarily inhalation; some COUs also show non-cancer/cancer dermal risk |
|
Occupational Non-Users (ONU) |
4 of the above COUs also involve ONUs |
Inhalation pathway only (ONUs have no direct contact; dermal not assessed) |
|
Consumers (including bystanders) |
All 3 cleaning/polishing product COUs present significant risk |
Consumers: mainly acute inhalation, plus chronic non-cancer/cancer inhalation and dermal; bystanders: primarily inhalation |
|
General population |
No significant risk |
– |
Next Steps
EPA is soliciting public comments on 10 categories of issues, including manufacturing characteristics, laboratory chemical volumes and PPE, whether cleaning/polishing products will re-enter the U.S. market, the exposure representativeness of certain Occupational Exposure Scenarios (OES), and the effectiveness of gloves/respiratory protection. EPA will also take into account the SACC (Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals) review comments from August 2026 in making its final risk determination.
