Regulatory Review

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About this time last spring, the U.S. Senate actually appeared on the brink of tackling reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

It’s unofficially known as the “granddaddy” of adhesive volatile organic compound (VOC) rules.

One argument many industries have against environmental regulation has been that it often ignores a holistic view of a product and instead focuses on only one attribute (e.g., volatile organic compounds, or VOCs).

When the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976, most people interested in chemicals regulation lauded it as the greatest and most advanced piece of chemical legislation of their time.

Over the past couple of years, the concept of alternative assessment (AA) has become much more common in the regulatory environment.

Given any of the variety of adhesive and sealant products on the market, many ASI readers could probably determine the specific VOC rule and level that would apply.

South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) Volatile Organic Content (VOC) Rule 1168 for Adhesive and Sealant Applications is being reviewed and edited this year.