Reducing the environmental impact

From the information presented in this section, it can be concluded that only short chain chlorinated paraffins present a significant environmental risk. The UK government prepared in 1999 and revised in 2005 a risk assessment report on short-chain chlorinated paraffins within the framework of the EU Existing Substances Review.  At that time work on medium-and-long chain chlorinated paraffins was initiated under "Existing substances" (drafts available on ex-European Chemicals Bureau web site) which has continued under the "REACH" legislation for which both substances have been registered in 2010.

The SCCP Risk Assessment summary is also available on the web site of the ex-ECB. It requires risk reduction measures to be implemented on emissive uses in metalworking fluids and in leather treatment.

In the meantime, the Oslo and Paris Commissions (OSPAR) recommended the phase-out of the use of short-chain chlorinated paraffins in most applications in 1999 and in 2009 the UNECE decided to list SCCP on their POPs list.

European producers of chlorinated paraffins have voluntarily taken steps to eliminate sales of SCCPs to the metalworking and leather treatment industries, which are believed to present the greatest potential environmental risk.

Last update: 09/2011