EPA Calls for Nominations of Peer Reviewers for Two Phthalates

Released February 29, 2024

The The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is calling for nominations of scientific experts to assist the Agency’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) by serving as ad hoc reviewers in the peer review of the Draft Risk Evaluations for Di-isodecyl Phthalate (DIDP) and Di-isononyl Phthalate (DINP). 

EPA is conducting risk evaluations for DIDP and DINP under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) at the manufacturers’ request. Under TSCA, manufacturers can request that EPA conduct risk evaluations on chemicals they manufacture. EPA decided in 2019 to conduct the risk evaluations concurrently because of the many similarities the two chemicals share. DIDP and DINP are both phthalates, and therefore have similar physical properties and exposure to humans and the environment. Both DIDP and DINP are primarily used as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in consumer, commercial, and industrial applications. 

Nominees should be scientists who have sufficient professional qualifications, including training and experience, to be capable of providing expert comments on the scientific issues for this review. EPA is specifically looking for individuals with expertise in one or more of the following areas: health and ecological risk assessment; general exposure, particularly, consumer products and indoor air; and ingestion exposure for mouthing/ingestion route and chemical migration to saliva, surface water concentrations, water solubility, and acute aquatic hazard. 

When nominating a candidate to serve as an ad hoc reviewer for these two risk evaluations, do not submit any information considered to be confidential business information or other restricted information. Members of the public should also be aware that personal contact information, if included in any written comments, may be posted on the internet. 

Prospective candidates will also be asked to submit confidential financial information to fully disclose, among other financial interests, the candidate's employment, stocks and bonds, and where applicable, sources of research support. EPA will evaluate the candidates' financial disclosure forms to assess whether there are financial conflicts of interest, appearance of a loss of impartiality, or any prior involvement with the development of the documents under consideration (including previous scientific peer review) before the candidate is considered further. 

The SACC peer review will take place at a public meeting to be scheduled for this summer. The SACC’s peer review will inform the Agency’s final risk evaluations and risk management decisions under TSCA. 

Nominations are due no later than April 1, 2024, via email to the SACC mailbox: SACC@epa.gov. 

The SACC serves as a scientific peer review mechanism of EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. It provides independent scientific advice and recommendations to EPA on the scientific basis for risk assessments, methodologies and pollution prevention measures and approaches for chemicals regulated under TSCA.

For more information, view the Federal Register notice or contact the Designated Federal Official, Dr. Alaa Kamel, kamel.alaa@epa.gov.