High Production Volume Challenge Program
The “HPV Challenge Program" is an EPA initiative that challenges producers and importers of large amounts of chemicals (greater than one million pounds annually) to voluntarily assemble and make publically available health information on these “HPV chemicals”. Since the program’s start, Sunoco has fully sponsored all its HPV-covered products and process streams.
The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), has another recognized HPV-equivalent Program – "HPV Chemicals Initiative" with which Sunoco is also working. Both the EPA and the ICCA programs provide information via web sites:
By forming a HPV consortia with other manufacturers, Sunoco avoided duplication and inefficiency when gathering information or completing health effects studies. The consortia assessed data adequacy, produced summaries and test plans, received stakeholder comments and, when necessary, conducted studies on sponsored materials.
Health information, environmental data and, sometimes recommendations for additional studies were typically included in the test plans. Also, to conserve animal resources, a "product category" approach was used where only a representative sample from a chemically-similar series of materials was selected for any planned study.
Category test plans for Sunoco-related consortia have been provided to either the EPA or the ICCA for all their sponsored HPV chemicals. Some HPV chemicals have completed the entire assessment process while others are either awaiting further comments, study results, or are currently being reviewed. The Sunoco-related consortia expect closure for all their HPV categories within the next year.
Children's Health Initiative
Sunoco also participates, along with other companies, in the EPA’s Pilot Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program. The Program is intended to provide information on potential effects to children of chemicals that might be encountered in their environment.
Sunoco has utilized the American Chemistry Council’s Product Panels to collect data and prepare chemical risk assessments. These assessments are reviewed by an EPA-appointed team of public health-related scientists from the “Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment" organization. TERA scientists have specialized experience in chemical toxicity testing and/or exposure evaluations and represent a wide diversity of viewpoints.
Each TERA reviewer group determines whether the provided risk assessments adequately address the potential risks from that chemical’s known health effects and exposures. The EPA considers each recommendation from the TERA reviewer group and determines if further health studies and/or exposure assessments are needed to characterize the chemical’s potential risks.
Sunoco sponsored four chemicals through the pilot program. The EPA has concluded that one of chemicals did not need any further investigation. TERA has intensively reviewed the other three products and made recommendations to the EPA. The EPA is currently considering the final recommendations to the consortia for these materials. |
