EPA won’t ban any uses of a purple dye commonly used in paints under review for its ties to lung damage.
The agency on Friday released its C.I. Pigment Violet 29 proposed risk management rule, which outlined more stringent protections for workers at risk of breathing in the chemical in its powdered form.
“We can keep people safe from exposure to this toxic chemical with commonsense workplace safety measures,” Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff said in a news release.
The chemical is primarily used to create other pigments in paints or inks for commercial printing, as well as a dye in plastics, coatings and rubbers in the automobile and carpeting industries. About 1 million pounds are produced annually, according to EPA.
