Presented by the New Brunswick Lung Association In partnership with Health Canada

Brief Background and Process NBLA contract to engage CSOs on the assessment and management of 9 chemical groupings Goals are to increase awareness of the CMP, to engage Canadians, and to provide input to the Government of Canada from CSOs Today’s Webinar Agenda: HBCDs– the process for these was begun before this engagement contract. They are not part of the 9 chemical groupings. High level overview of chemicals, Screening Assessment including sources, risks, and proposed Risk Management Plan Input from participants and dialogue Identification of recommendations to forward to Health Canada

Hexabromocyclododecane- HBCD -What is it? Belongs to a class of chemicals referred to as flame retardants Used in polystyrene foam insulation used in building construction materials, in textiles and products such as glue, paint, plastics and electronics

May be released to air, water, or soils during production, manufacturing, transportation, improper handling or storage, and from the disposal of materials Exposure to humans may occur through contact with contaminated air, water and soil, household dust, food, breast milk and directly from treated consumer products HBCD: How is it released and how are Canadians exposed?

Hexabromocyclododecane- HBCD - Potential Harm Assessment HBCD has demonstrated toxicity in both aquatic and terrestrial species, with significant adverse effects on survival, reproduction and development reported in algae, daphnids and annelid worms. Recent studies indicate potential impacts on the normal functioning of liver enzymes and thyroid hormones in fish. Exposures of the general population of Canada to HBCD may occur through oral and inhalation routes. Known sources of human exposure to HBCD include environmental media (ambient air, water, soil), household dust, indoor air, human milk, and HBCD-treated consumer products. HBCD may potentially be released from the matrix of a product over time through abrasion and usage.

Hexabromocyclododecane- HBCD - Potential Harm Assessment The human health hazard risk characterization for HBCD was based primarily upon the assessment of the European Union. The results of a limited database indicate that HBCD is not genotoxic, nor carcinogenic, and did not cause systemic toxicity in a chronic oral feeding study in rats. Other effects included decreased fertility and a weak hypothyroidism in pregnant dams and, at high doses, reversible hyperthyroidism in offspring from weaning to adulthood. The highest estimated intake of HBCD is expected to be in infants from ingestion of human milk and the mouthing of consumer products. However, based on the available information, it was concluded that HBCD is not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.

Hexabromocyclododecane- HBCD - Potential Harm Assessment Summary: HBCD has the potential to remain in the environment for a long time, accumulate in organisms and cause harm to organisms. The Government of Canada has concluded that HBCD is entering the environment in a quantity or under conditions that constitute a danger to the environment and meets the criteria for virtual elimination. The Government of Canada has concluded that HBCD is not harmful to the health of the general population at current levels of exposure.

Hexabromocyclododecane- HBCD - Proposed Risk Management For all of the chemicals screened under the Chemicals Management Plan, if a substance is found to meet any of the risk criteria set out in section 64 of the Act, the Ministers can propose to: take no further action with respect to the substance, add the substance to the Priority Substances List (PSL) for further assessment, or recommend the addition of the substance to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Act. Note: in certain circumstances, the Ministers must make a specific proposal either to recommend addition to the List of Toxic Substances and to recommend the implementation of virtual elimination.

Hexabromocyclododecane- HBCD - Proposed Risk Management Based on the conclusion of the final screening assessment, the Government of Canada proposes to ad HBCD to the virtual elimination list. HBCD is being considered for addition to two international agreements: the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the Persistent Organic Pollutant Protocol of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). The Screening Assessment Report on Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) is available on the CMP website and the Proposed Risk Management Approach for Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) was published in November There is a 60-day public comment period on the Consultation Document from October 3, 2012 to December 2, 2012.Screening Assessment Report on Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)Proposed Risk Management Approach for Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)

Hexabromocyclododecane- HBCD - Proposed Risk Management An alternative to HBCD foam applications has been developed and is now becoming available. With respect to the HBCD alternative, a Design for the Environment alternatives assessment of HBCD is underway by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, as part of the HBCD Action Plan (Annex A). In Canada, any alternative substance would undergo assessment through either the Existing Substances Program, or New Substances Program to determine the potential impacts of substances to the health of Canadians or the environment.Existing Substances ProgramNew Substances Program The Government of Canada is proposing to implement regulations to prohibit the manufacture, use, sale, offer for sale, import and export of HBCD and products containing HBCD. This will be achieved through the addition of HBCD to the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2005 (SOR/SOR/ ) [EC, 2005], herein referred to as “Prohibition Regulations”.Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2005 (SOR/SOR/ )

Hexabromocyclododecane- HBCD - Proposed Risk Management To ensure Canada meets its international obligations, the addition of HBCD to the Export Control List (Schedule 3 of CEPA 1999) will be evaluated in due course to consider the implementation of export restrictions. Separate consultations will be undertaken for the export controls on HBCD and products containing HBCD when deemed timely and appropriate. Currently, the coming into force date of December 31, 2016 is being considered.