Isoprene –Performance Measurement Evaluation

1,3-Butadiene, 2-methyl-

CAS Registry Number 78-79-5

Isoprene was identified as a potential concern to human health based on its classification by national and international agencies as a substance that was found to cause cancer and its high potential for exposure to Canadians. The primary exposure to isoprene is through indoor and ambient outdoor air; cigarette smoke significantly increases exposure.

The risk management objective for isoprene was to reduce exposure from man-made sources to the extent practicable. As the synthetic rubber manufacturing sector is the main industrial contributor of isoprene emissions to ambient outdoor air in Canada, the Government took action to reduce exposure from man-made sources of isoprene by issuing a Pollution Prevention (P2) Planning Notice to reduce isoprene emissions. The Government also added isoprene to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist (Hotlist).

The performance measurement evaluation found that since the implementation of the P2 Notice by the applicable facility in 2012, there has been a 78% decrease in facility specific isoprene releases (2019) and an 86% decrease Canada-wide. Additionally, the performance measurement evaluation noted a decrease in the deliberate use of isoprene in cosmetics in Canada.

The performance measurement evaluation concluded that the risk management actions taken have achieved their desired results by protecting the health of Canadians from the concerns identified in the final screening assessment, published in 2008. Canadians can be further protected from isoprene by reducing exposure to cigarette smoke.

Complete details on the performance measurement evaluation for isoprene can be found in the Performance Measurement Evaluation for Risk Management of Isoprene.

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• Chemical substances in Batch 2 of the Challenge