Health
Silicones are some of the most widely-studied chemicals used in consumer products and industrial applications. The industry supports the safe and responsible use of silicone materials and endorses Canada’s use of risk-based weight-of-evidence assessments for effective human-health decision-making. Health Canada used a risk-based approach to evaluate siloxanes, and determined there was no indication of any risk to children or adults. According to Health Canada, “Siloxanes were evaluated for risks to human and environmental health under the Chemicals Management Plan. An analysis of exposure through cosmetic products showed that the substances do not present a risk to human health as currently used.”
The conclusions of Health Canada are consistent with decades of research conducted by the industry and independent scientists. For instance, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review concluded there is no risk to human health in cosmetic applications. The silicone industry will continue to be at the forefront of research to provide even greater scientific understanding of the health and environmental safety of silicone materials used in consumer and industrial applications. The goal of the research is to investigate potential health concerns and communicate relevant research and safety information to regulatory agencies, employees, and customers.
Environment
In January 2009 Environment Canada identified two siloxanes – D4 and D5 – as possibly warranting environmental regulatory measures. EC agreed to review its decisions after considering a comprehensive screening assessment illustrated data that showed D4 and D5 do not behave as persistent, bioaccumulative, or toxic in the environment.
With respect to D5, the Canadian Environment Minister established a first-ever Board of Review to advise him, based on the newly available science, whether D5 could pose a risk to the environment. Following a scientific review process, which included formal hearings and a rigorous examination of all the relevant scientific information related to D5’s behavior in the environment and any potential danger posed by the substance, the Board concluded in late October 2011 that “siloxane D5 does not pose a danger to the environment or its biological diversity.” Furthermore, the Board – which was composed of independent toxicologists – concluded that, “based on the information presented, siloxane D5 will not pose a danger to the environment or its biological diversity in the future.” In February 2012, the Canadian Environment Minister accepted the Board of Review’s findings and removed D5 from a proposed list of toxic substances.
In addition, although Environment Canada included D4 on the CEPA Toxics List, after reviewing the scientific data and environmental monitoring results available for D4, they did not impose any restrictions on product use or product concentration limits on the use of D4 in any application.
The silicones industry does not believe there is a need to restrict the use of D4 and D5 in any application, since the concentrations of these substances that have been measured in the environment are substantially below the levels that might pose a risk to the environment. The silicone industry is collaborating actively with the authorities in the different regions, including Canada, to provide data from industry environmental monitoring studies and additional research. The industry will continue to work with authorities on the development of regulatory assessments and associated management measures that minimize environmental impacts, and facilitate innovation, job-creation, and economic growth.