The European Agency for Chemicals (Echa) added three new substances to theList of extremely worrying ones (SVHC) As part of the REACH Regulation. With this update, the substances considered at risk for human health and the environment rise to 250 voices.
The 3 new substances reported
The added substances belong to different categories, but all share characteristics of particular danger. These are:
Very persistent and bioaccumulable siloxanes
A toxic coloring for reproduction
Where they are found
The three substances just added by the Eacha to the list of extremely worrying substances are found in different commonly used products. The two siloxans-1,1,1,3.5.5.5.5.5.5.3.3-((Trimetilsililil) osse) Trisiloxano and DecameTiltetraSilossano-are widely used in cosmetics, in personal care products such as creams, shampoo and deodorants, but also in lubricants and products for the maintenance of cars.
The third compound, an Azo dye known as the reactive brown 51, is mainly used to treat fabrics and dyes, therefore it can be present in clothing, home textiles and other colored items.
How to recognize them on the label
Identifying these substances in the products is not always simple, but reading the inci (the ingredients list) of cosmetics or the chemical product label is a first step. Silossans can appear with names such as cyclomethicone, dimethicone, trisiloxane or with the acronym D4, D5, D6, depending on the chemical structure. It also checks the presence of terms that end in -Siloxane or -Methicone.
As for azo dyes such as the reactive brown 51, it is more difficult to find them clearly indicated: they usually appear with the wording follow us from a specific number. In the fabrics, however, they are not mandatory, therefore it is good to prefer transparent or certified brands for the reduction of dangerous chemicals.
What does the insertion in the SVHC list involves
The inclusion of a substance in the list of Svhc candidate substances does not mean an immediate prohibition, but activates several legal obligations for companies that produce them, import or use them.
In particular:
Possible future restrictions
The insertion in the SVHC list is often only a first step: In the future, these substances could end up in the list of substances subject to authorization. In this case, companies could no longer use them without a specific authorization issued by the European Commission.
