-- Regulators Conclude L2, L4, L5, and D3 Pose Low Risk to Environment and 
Human Health

Members of the Global Silicones Council (GSC) ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=740139400&u=http%3A%2F%2Fglobalsilicones.org%2F&a=Global+Silicones+Council 
) welcome Canada's draft risk assessment ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=2044443799&u=http%3A%2F%2Fgazette.gc.ca%2Frp-pr%2Fp1%2F2019%2F2019-06-01%2Fhtml%2Fnotice-avis-eng.html&a=Canada%27s+draft+risk+assessment 
) of a range of silicone materials, including L2, L4, L5, and D3 [1]. The 
Canadian Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health have concluded 
these siloxanes are not entering the environment in a quantity or concentration 
or under conditions that constitute a danger to the environment, nor a risk to 
human health. As such, Canada has not proposed any regulatory restrictions on 
the use of any of these materials.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/956059/Global_Silicones_Council_Logo.jpg

"GSC supports Canada's commitment to use a risk-based, weight-of-evidence 
approach when evaluating chemicals, and its conclusion that L2, L4, L5, and D3 
do not pose risks to the environment nor to human health," said Karluss Thomas, 
Executive Director, GSC. "The Canadian conclusion reaffirms what many 
independent scientists and experts have already confirmed – scientific research 
and testing demonstrate the safety of silicones in their diverse and important 
applications and no regulatory restrictions on these materials are warranted."

In Canada, L2, L4, L5, and D3 are primarily used in a wide range of products 
such as cosmetics, electronics, medical devices, adhesives and sealants, as 
well as in industrial applications such as paints and coatings. Canadian 
authorities characterized the ecological and health risks of these materials 
using a risk-based approach, based on weighted consideration of multiple lines 
of evidence for determining the risk classification. None of the materials met 
any of the criteria pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and 
therefore, no further regulatory action is required.

Canadian regulators previously evaluated a number of other silicone materials, 
including D4, D5, D6, and L3. After a full review of all the relevant science, 
Canada did not impose any use restrictions or concentration-based restrictions 
on D4, D5, D6, or L3 for any product in Canada.

"Canada's assessment of these siloxanes, coupled with Australia's ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=2465276351&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nicnas.gov.au%2Fchemical-information%2Fimap-assessments%2Fimap-assessments%2Ftier-ii-environment-assessments%2Fcvms&a=Australia%27s 
) and Canada's ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=890454889&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canada.ca%2Fen%2Fenvironment-climate-change%2Fservices%2Fcanadian-environmental-protection-act-registry.html&a=Canada%27s 
) previous assessments of D4, D5, D6, [2] and L3, reiterates these substances 
can be used safely in appropriate applications without harming human health or 
the environment," continued Thomas. "We continue to urge regulators around the 
world to adopt Australia's and Canada's risk-based approach to chemical 
evaluations. Because of the significant benefits these substances provide to 
consumers and society, it is important that any regulatory determinations be 
based on real-world exposure and all available relevant scientific data. 
Canada's leadership on chemical management issues continues to demonstrate that 
regulators can simultaneously protect the environment and human health, while 
promoting product innovation."

These silicone substances are critical building blocks used to produce a broad 
range of silicone polymers which provide unique product performance 
characteristics that engender innovation in thousands of products that benefit 
key segments of the global economy, including: transportation ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=144754829&u=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalsilicones.org%2Ftransportation&a=transportation 
), building and construction ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=1522399727&u=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalsilicones.org%2Fconstruction&a=building+and+construction 
), health care ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=365458096&u=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalsilicones.org%2Fhealthcare&a=health+care 
), alternative energy technologies ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=2834005211&u=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalsilicones.org%2Fenergy&a=alternative+energy+technologies 
), and electronics ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=3583686452&u=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalsilicones.org%2Felectronics&a=electronics 
). In these sectors, there are few, if any, satisfactory substitutes to 
silicone polymers.

To learn more, view these frequently asked questions ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2542742-1&h=2749596658&u=https%3A%2F%2Fglobalsilicones.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FCanadian%2520Assessment%2520FAQ.pdf&a=frequently+asked+questions 
) or visit http://globalsilicones.org/.

The Global Silicones Council (GSC) is a not-for-profit, international 
organization representing companies that produce and sell silicone products 
around the world. The GSC brings together all the major global manufactures via 
the three Regional Silicone Industry Associations in North America (Silicones 
Environmental, Health, and Safety Center – SEHSC), Europe (Silicones Europe – 
CES), and Japan (Silicones Industry Association of Japan – SIAJ) and encourages 
their cooperation and collaboration.

The GSC's objective is to promote the safe use and stewardship of silicones 
globally. To accomplish its mission, the GSC undertakes the following 
activities:

-- Monitor the environmental, health, and safety activities of the three 
Regional Silicones Industry Associations (RSIAs) and coordinate such activities 
on a global basis.
-- Proactively promote industry communication with regulatory bodies around the 
world and with international environmental, health, and safety organizations, 
such as the World Health Organization, the Organization of Economic Cooperation 
and Development, and the United Nations. 
-- Through the RSIAs, identify and anticipate opportunities to enhance 
environmental, health, and safety research relating to silicones and engage in 
global projects to communicate the industry's product stewardship commitment. 
-- Through the RSIAs, sponsor projects to improve the public's understanding of 
the benefits and safety of silicones.

[1]
L2  Hexamethyldisiloxane 
L4  Decamethyltetrasiloxane
L5  Dodecamethylpentasiloxane
D3  Cyclotrisiloxane

[2]
D4  octamethyltetracyclosiloxane
D5  decamethylpentascylosiloxane
D6  dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane

SOURCE: Global Silicones Council

CONTACT: Karluss Thomas, Email: kthomas@globalsilicones.com