Proposed controls for two aluminium compounds and NMP

Summary#

This Canada Gazette notice reports health and environmental assessments under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. It proposes adding two aluminium-based ingredients and one solvent to the list of substances that could be regulated, invites public comment, and announces a final “no further action” decision for two commercial naphthenic acid substances. The notice was published on January 27, 2024, and the public comment period runs for 60 days (until March 27, 2024).

What it does#

• Environment and Health ministers propose to add aluminum hydroxychloride and aluminum chlorohydrate to Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999. A risk-management scope document for these two substances has been released to start stakeholder discussions.
• The draft assessment says the other 53 aluminium-containing substances in the group do not currently meet the Act’s criteria for action. No further action is proposed on those 53 at this time.
• It proposes to add N‑methyl‑2‑pyrrolidone (NMP) to Part 2 of Schedule 1. A risk-management scope document for NMP has also been released.
• It proposes no further action on N‑ethyl‑2‑pyrrolidone (NEP) at this time, but officials may track changes in its use or exposure in the future.
• A final decision was published that two commercial naphthenic acids (including calcium naphthenates) do not meet the Act’s criteria and will receive no further action now.
• Interested people and groups can submit written comments within 60 days of the notice (until March 27, 2024).

Who's affected#

• Manufacturers, importers and suppliers of products that contain the named substances, including:
  • companies that make or sell antiperspirants and deodorants (because aluminum hydroxychloride and aluminum chlorohydrate are used in some antiperspirant products);
  • chemical producers and industrial users of NMP, including makers of adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings, paint removers, and some cleaning products.
• Consumers who use aerosol or powdered personal-care products, do-it-yourself products, or products that can produce inhalable mist or dust. (The assessments flagged inhalation as an exposure route for some substances.)
• People living near industrial facilities that release aluminium to the environment, and some Indigenous communities where traditional or country foods may contribute to aluminium exposure.
• Businesses that use or trade the two commercial naphthenic acids (these substances were assessed and found not to require further action now).

If it’s unclear whether you or your workplace use any of these substances, you may need to check product labels, safety data sheets, or supplier information.

Why it matters#

• Adding a substance to Part 2 of Schedule 1 starts the formal process that can lead to legal controls, reporting requirements, or bans. If the proposed additions proceed, manufacturers and sellers could face new rules or limits in the future.
• The draft assessments identify specific health concerns:
  • For the two aluminium compounds, the review judged there may be human-health risks that warrant risk-management planning.
  • For NMP, the assessment cites reproductive and developmental effects and found exposure from some uses (for example, deck adhesives) could be of concern.
• For most of the other aluminium-containing substances, and for the two assessed naphthenic acids, the assessments concluded current exposures are unlikely to harm human health or the environment. That means, for now, fewer immediate regulatory changes are expected for those substances.
• The public comment period (ends March 27, 2024) is a chance for industry, experts, Indigenous groups, and members of the public to provide data or views that could affect final decisions and any future rules.