PBTs targeted for phase-out in Washington State
The Department of Ecology’s target list of persistent, bioaccumulative, toxins (PBTs) currently has twenty-nine chemicals or chemical groups. The list includes chemicals that may not qualify as PBTs themselves but whose breakdown products are PBTs (such as deca-BDE). Unfortunately, due to lobbying by pesticide manufacturers, the list does not include any chemicals that are currently approved for use as pesticides.
For detailed information on how this PBT list was determined, see Washington's PBT Rule.
For the criteria used to define a PBT chemical, see WAC 173-333-320.
In March 2007, Ecology released its schedule for producing Chemical Action Plans for these chemicals. Multiyear PBT Chemical Action Plan Schedule
Banned Pesticides:
- Aldrin
- Chlordane
- Chlordecone or Kepone
- DDT
- Dieldrin
- Endrin
- Heptachlor/Heptachlor epoxide
- Hexachlorobenzene
- Mirex
- Tetrachlorobenzene, 1,2,4,5-
- Toxaphene
Flame Retardants:
- Hexabromobiphenyl - brominated flame retardant
- Hexabromocyclodecane - brominated flame retardant
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers or PBDEs - brominated flame retardants
- Tetrabromobisphenol A or TBBPA - brominated flame retardant
- Short-chain chlorinated paraffins - chlorinated flame retardants, also used as plastic and paint additives
Products of Burning/Combustion:
- Polybrominated dibenzodioxins and furans- byproducts of heating or burning brominated flame retardants
- Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans - byproducts of burning waste, chlorinated paper-making, and PVC/vinyl production
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs- combustion byproduct from many sources, including: coal, gas, oil, tobacco, garbage
Others:
- Hexachlorobutadiene - solvent, used in rubber compounds
- Methyl mercury - heavy metal
- Pentachlorobenzene - used to make banned pesticides
- Perfluorooctane sulfonates or PFOS - Teflon chemical
- Polychlorinated biphenyls or PCBs - coolant fluids for electrical equipment and machinery, EPA mandated phase-out in the late 1970’s
- Polychlorinated naphthalenes - used in solvents, cable installation, wood preservatives, oil additives
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