The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule to protect workers from the health hazards associated with carbon tetrachloride (CTC). Known for its toxicity, CTC exposure has been linked to severe health risks. Effective January 17, 2025, this rule establishes robust worker safety programs and bans specific high-risk uses of CTC. This marks a significant step toward protecting workers from carbon tetrachloride exposure and improving workplace safety.
What is Carbon Tetrachloride?
Carbon Tetrachloride, also known as “carbon tet,” is a man-made chemical widely used in industrial settings to manufacture refrigerants, aerosol propellants, and foam-blowing agents. Its production and use for most consumer and domestic purposes were phased out in the 1970s due to significant health risks.
The Impact on Worker Health
The EPA’s 2020 Risk Evaluation identified CTC as presenting an “unreasonable risk of injury to health” in multiple settings. Chronic exposure to CTC has been linked to liver cancer, neurological damage, adrenal gland tumors, and reproductive and developmental toxicity.
Highlighting the importance of these new regulations, Michal Freedhoff, Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, stated, “This rule puts necessary protections in place for workers while also ensuring that important uses of this chemical can continue safely without unreasonable risk.”
Key Changes Under the New Rule
The EPA’s rule introduces a Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) designed to mitigate the risks associated with CTC exposure while permitting certain critical uses. The program enforces stringent exposure limits, requires protective measures, and prohibits high-risk uses.
Strengthened Workplace Safety Standards
The EPA’s rule introduces a Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) to protect workers from harmful exposure. Key measures include:
- Stringent Exposure Limit: The rule sets a chemical exposure limit of 0.03 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average—300 times stricter than OSHA’s existing limit of 10 ppm.
- Protective Equipment: Employers must provide fume hoods, gloves, and other personal protective equipment to prevent inhalation or skin contact with CTC.
- Monitoring and Training: Regular monitoring of exposure levels and comprehensive worker training are mandatory to ensure safety.
Banned Uses of CTC
The rule prohibits several uses of CTC that, according to the EPA, have already ceased. These include its use in metal recovery processes, petrochemical manufacturing, and as an additive in industrial applications. The bans aim to prevent these discontinued high-risk uses from resuming.
Does This Rule Apply to You?
The new rule applies to those involved in the manufacturing, processing, distribution, use, or disposal of CTC. This also includes importers, as “manufacture” under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) encompasses importing into U.S. customs territory. Industries that may be affected include:
- Chemical Manufacturing
- Petrochemical Manufacturing
- Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
- Industrial Gas Manufacturing
- Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing
- Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining
- Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
Compliance Deadlines
To provide adequate time for implementation, the EPA has established a phased timeline for compliance. Non-Federal owners and operators must begin initial exposure monitoring by June 11, 2026, while Federal agencies and contractors have until June 21, 2027. Employers must meet the stringent exposure limit for airborne CTC concentrations by September 9, 2026, or September 20, 2027, for Federal entities. Dermal protection measures, such as providing personal protective equipment, must be implemented by June 16, 2025, for non-Federal operators.
By December 3, 2027, all organizations using CTC must develop and implement detailed exposure control plans. These plans must outline how employers will reduce exposure risks through elimination, substitution, engineering controls, or administrative measures, following the hierarchy of controls. Additionally, facilities must ensure that ventilation measures used to meet exposure limits do not increase CTC emissions into the outside air. This requirement helps protect neighboring communities from harmful exposure.
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