A simple question is asked by end-users and consumers of our products, transporters, distributors and of course our own employees, “Are Dissolvine® products safe?” Dissolvine® chelating agents are used in many applications such as in food, detergents, photography, agriculture and paper production. The levels at which chelating agents are used in the final products or industrial process vary. In order to determine the potential health and environmental effects of our products, we followed the extensive Product Risk Characterization Process of the European Union on two representative products (EDTA and NTA) of our product family. In that process the risk of a product is determined by combining the knowledge on the hazards and exposures to workers, consumers and humans that are exposed to these substances via its presence in the environment.
Hazard evaluation is a process whereby all available hazard information about a chemical is identified and evaluated using professional judgment. Product hazards are categorized as being health hazards, physical hazards and environmental hazards. We utilize Akzo Nobel’s files and databases, government databases and search in private databases. We also collaborate with authorities, government agencies and other companies in the industry to obtain and present key information about our chemicals.
Further, we are actively involved in the United States High Production Volume (HPV) program. This program presents the hazard information on products that are imported or produced in the United States with a volume of more than 1,000,000 pounds. Similar products in our Dissolvine® product line are grouped under one HPV category of “chelating agents”, which minimizes the number of new tests, including test on animals, which have to be conducted to ensure the effectiveness, reliability and safety of our products. In regards to animal testing, Akzo Nobel supports and applies, whenever possible, the principle of the three Rs: to replace, reduce and refine animal experiments.
We have extensive experience on how to safely handle chelating agents and the exposure risks of these chemicals to humans and the environment. A qualitative indication of the exposure risk is relative to the quantity used in an application, the likely routes of exposure, the specific use and the concentration ranges. The maximum effluent levels for EDTA have been estimated from worst-case exposure scenarios on all known applications. In addition very extensive monitoring data are available on the actual concentrations in effluents and the aqueous environment. The measured concentration is judged against the No Effect Level of the substance and a safety factor is applied. Based on the information that we have, our Dissolvine® products can be generally characterized as low hazard substances.
Akzo Nobel Chelates & Micronutrients remains committed to being a responsible partner in the communities where we do business. To guarantee the safe use of Dissolvine® chelates in all applications, we provide extensive technical assistance to our customers and inform them to the best of our knowledge.
If you would like to have additional information on our product stewardship or specific information on any products, please click on the “contact us”. Or consult the Material Safety Data Sheets posted on this website to get specific product information.
Some other interesting websites to visit are:
Technical Guidance Document on Risk Assessment of the European Union <http://ecb.jrc.it/existing-chemicals/>
Chemical Right-to-Know Initiative from the EPA <www.epa.gov/chemrtk>
American Chemistry Council <www.americanchemistry.com>
European Chemical Industry Council and the REACH program <http://www.cefic.org>