Diarylide Yellow Pigments of the Aromatic Azo and Benzidine-based substance grouping

What are they?

• Five substances are included in the Diarylide Yellow Pigments subgroup screening assessment.
• These five diarylide yellow pigments are man-made chemicals. They are not expected to occur naturally in the environment.

How are they used?

• These substances are colouring agents that are primarily used in ink and toners to create images. They are also used in paints and coatings, food packaging applications, plastics and rubber materials.
• Two substances are also used in cosmetics such as hair dye and lipstick.
• Based on the most recent data, four of the five diarylide yellow pigments are manufactured in Canada or imported into Canada.

Why did the Government of Canada assess them?

• These five diarylide yellow pigments were identified as priorities for assessment based on categorization criteria of the Domestic Substances List, and/or were considered as priority substances based on other human health concerns.
• These five pigments were considered in the Chemicals Management Plan Substance Groupings Initiative.

How are Canadians exposed to them?

• Exposure of the general population of Canada to these five diarylide yellow pigments via environmental media is expected to be negligible.
• Canadians may be exposed to these pigments during the use of certain consumer products containing these substances.

How are they released into the environment?

• These substances may be released to the environment during industrial processes such as paper recycling.

What are the results of the assessment?

• The Government of Canada has conducted a science-based evaluation of these five diarylide yellow pigments, called a screening assessment.
• Screening assessments address the potential for harm to the general population of Canada and the environment.
• Hazards related to chemicals used in the workplace should be classified accordingly under the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).
• Results of the draft screening assessment indicate that although the five diarylide yellow pigments are not expected to accumulate in organisms, these substances may remain in the environment for a long time.
• Furthermore, the quantity of these five pigments that may be released to the environment is below the level expected to cause harm to organisms.
• The Government of Canada is therefore concluding that these five substances are not entering the environment at levels that constitute a danger to the environment.
• The Government of Canada is also concluding that these five diarylide yellow pigments are not harmful to human health.
• One of these pigments, CPAOBP, was previously assessed in 2008 and concluded to have the potential to remain in the environment for a long time, accumulate in organisms and cause harm to organisms, although it was not a concern because it was not in commerce. However, the results of this new screening assessment of diarylide yellow pigments indicate that CPAOBP is not expected to accumulate in organisms or to cause harm to organisms.

What is the Government of Canada doing?

• Based on the conclusion of the screening assessment, the Government of Canada concludes that no further action be taken on any of the five diarylide yellow pigments.
• The final Screening Assessment on Diarylide Yellow Pigments was published on October 11, 2014.
• The Significant New Activity (SNAc) provisions were applied to CPAOBP, following its initial assessment in 2008, requiring that any proposed new manufacture, import or use be subject to further assessment to determine if any new activity required further risk management consideration. However, as a result of this new assessment, the SNAc provisions on CPAOBP have been rescinded.

What can Canadians do?

• The health risks associated with a chemical depend on the hazard (its potential to cause health effects) and the dose (the amount of chemical to which you are exposed). These pigments are not a concern for the environment or human health at current levels of exposure.
• As a general precaution, Canadians are reminded when using any product to carefully follow any safety warnings and directions.
• Canadians who handle these five diarylide yellow pigments in the workplace should consult with their employer and occupational health and safety representative about safe handling practices, applicable laws and requirements under the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS).