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LIVING-FUTURE.ORG

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THE RED LIST

* About the LBC Red List
* The Watch List
* Annual Updates to the LBC Red List
* A - F
* M - P
* S - Z
* Red List and Watch List CASRN Guide

ABOUT THE LBC RED LIST

The Living Building Challenge (LBC) Red List represents the “worst in class”
materials, chemicals, and elements known to pose serious risks to human health
and the greater ecosystem that are prevalent in the building products industry.
The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) believes that these materials
should be phased out of production due to human and/or environmental health and
toxicity concerns. While there are certainly other items that could be added,
this list was determined by selecting items with the greatest potential impact
if they were significantly curbed or eliminated from the building industry. ILFI
worked with the Healthy Building Network and the Pharos Project to develop the
original Red List in 2006.

Red List classes are added or retired with each new version of the LBC Standard.
The revised chemical groupings that were established as part of the LBC 4.0
release more suitably categorize Red List chemicals by function, application
within the building products sector and structural similarity. The chemical
classes are described below, and the chemicals included in each group are
detailed in the 2021 LBC Red List CASRN Guide. While all chemicals in the 2021
LBC Red List CASRN Guide fall within the list of chemical classes outlined in
the Standard, not necessarily all chemicals in an LBC Red List Class are
included in the enforceable CASRN Guide. The CASRN Guide itself is updated on an
annual basis in January, and seeks to ensure that the Red List remains a
leadership tool and reflects best available science.

THE WATCH LIST

With the release of the Living Building Challenge 4.0, ILFI also introduced the
LBC Watch List. The intent of the LBC Watch List is to signal to manufacturers
and project teams that ILFI has identified certain chemicals and compound groups
for potential inclusion in the LBC Red List. The Watch List does not impact a
product’s Declaration Status, nor the ability of project teams to use products
that contain these chemicals on LBC projects. The LBC Red List CASRN Guide
remains the enforceable screening list.

The Watch List fills an important gap in the identification and prioritization
of chemicals for Red List inclusion. Substances on the Watch List may be
additionally designated as “Priority for Red List Inclusion” (Priority) to
indicate ILFI’s intent to add them to the Red List in future versions. A
chemical must be designated as “Priority” for at least 12 months before it can
be added to the Red List.

Priority designation provides a transparent “on-ramp” for the Red List, gives
space and time for stakeholder dialogue about when and if to add those
substances to the Red List, and provides manufacturers and consumers alike time
to phase these chemicals out of products and design, contributing to the
collective goal of a healthier materials economy. A chemical designated as
Priority for Red List Inclusion will flag in light orange on a Declare label,
but does not impact the product’s Declaration Status.

CASRNs may be added to the Watch List, or designated as Priority as part of
ILFI’s quarterly update of its program resources. Substances will only be added
to the enforceable Red List from the Priority List, and only as part of an LBC
Red List Annual Update that occurs in January of a given year. Substances may
also be “downgraded” from the Red List to Priority or Watch List or removed
entirely from any list as part of the annual update process.

ILFI believes that this transparency and update schedule will result in a Red
List that is regularly reviewed for alignment with best available science and
market realities, and will push the industry further and faster towards a future
free of toxic chemicals and materials.

ANNUAL UPDATES TO THE LBC RED LIST

ILFI commits to a comprehensive annual review and update of the composition of
the LBC Red List and LBC Watch List in order to reflect the evolution of
voluntary restricted substances lists and global regulations as well as
innovation of the building products manufacturing industry. Each annual update
is supported by ILFI staff research and recommendations from a rotating advisory
group whose membership consists of non-profit organizations, toxicology
professionals and safer chemistry advocates. Using the Healthy Building
Network’s Pharos project, ILFI identifies and adds chemical CASRNs to the LBC
Red List chemical classes through both individual additions and class-based
approaches of functional and structural similarity. Methodologies for inclusion
utilize hazard screening based on GreenScreen Benchmark scores from full
GreenScreen assessments and GreenScreen List Translator scores that are
presented within Pharos, and a consideration of authoritative lists (lists based
on a comprehensive expert review by a recognized authoritative body) in which a
chemical is included as well as latest available environmental toxicology
research and scientific reports. The result is a Red List and Watch List that
affirm the precautionary principle in their intention and design, represent the
collective knowledge of the industry in a unified and aligned voice, and
emphasize their role as tools for advocacy.

The currently effective LBC Red List and LBC Watch List were published in
January 2021 and are in effect for the 2021 calendar year. Prior to this, the
lists were last updated in July 2019; there was no update to the lists in
calendar year 2020. The 2021 update to the Lists continues due diligence efforts
to move chemicals to the Red List, through the 12-month minimum period of
Priority for Red List Inclusion designation, and continues the Red List’s
function as an effective screening tool of the pulse of the sustainable
buildings and products sectors. In addition, movements of CASRNs between the Red
List and Watch List provide ILFI the ability to make other significant changes
for the subsequent annual update, a prioritization process that will be
completed by ILFI as part of each annual update’s planning process. The updates
to the 2021 list are broadly summarized below. ILFI encourages its community of
users and the greater industry to examine the 2021 LBC Red List CASRN Guide for
specific CASRN updates and changes.

NOTABLE CHANGES IN 2021

Within California-banned solvents, 12 CASRNs were moved from the Red List to the
Watch List. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD)
limits the solvents’ concentration and content in architectural coatings,
consumer paint thinners and multi-purpose solvents, and certain adhesive and
sealant applications, but these limits do not apply at this time to cyclic,
branched, or linear, volatile completely methylated siloxanes (VMS). They have
been moved to the Watch List as ILFI continues to follow any regulatory updates
regarding limitations of use on these siloxane compounds.

Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) / Perfluorinated
Compounds (PFCs), formerly “Perfluorinated Compounds (PFCs)”, has been renamed
to reflect that PFCs are a subset of the PFAS chemical class, and that LBC Red
List CASRNs in this class are better identified and characterized by additional
association with PFAS. Following discussions with this year’s advisory group and
receiving feedback from additional stakeholders, ILFI considers PFAS in building
materials to be priorities for the LBC Red List and for enabling project teams
to create healthier built environments. Designating almost 5,000 CASRNs as
Priority for Red List Inclusion allows ILFI to review additional stakeholder
feedback, recognize where non-regrettable substitutions have been demonstrated
in building product applications, and understand any uses currently considered
essential in building products. This action underscores the utility of the LBC
Red List as a screening and advocacy tool for project teams.

HOW ANNUAL LBC RED LIST CHANGES AFFECT PRODUCT MANUFACTURERS

An active Declare label with a status of LBC Red List Free, LBC Red List
Approved, or LBC Compliant at the time of specification (when the project team
places the product order with the manufacturer) is sufficient documentation of
product compliance with I13 Red List. This remains true even if a constituent
chemical in the product is added to the Red List prior to the label’s expiration
date. ILFI will encourage project teams to download the Declare label
information at the time of specification.

Products in Declare will be evaluated against the LBC Red List version that is
active when a manufacturer submits the product for its annual label renewal. At
that time, a product with a Declare status of LBC Red List Free, LBC Red List
Approved, or LBC Compliant may subsequently receive Declared status because a
constituent chemical was subsequently added to the Red List and the product
formulation wasn’t changed. ILFI will inform project teams that if they did not
document the compliance status of the Declare label at the time of
specification, they may cross-reference the Red List ingredient identified on
the renewed Declare label with the contents of the Red List at the time of
project registration, to demonstrate compliance.

New Red List Classes (effective from the May 2019 update):

* Antimicrobials (Marketed with a health claim)
* Organotin Compounds
* Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)
* Medium Chain Chlorinated Paraffins
* Bisphenol A (BPA) and Structural Analogues

New Groupings of Existing Classes (effective from the May 2019 update):

* Chlorinated Polymers is now used as an overarching class to call out polymers
such as PVC, PVDC, Chloroprene and CPVC.
* Toxic Heavy Metals is now used as an overarching class to identify Cadmium,
Chromium VI Compounds, Lead (Added), Mercury and Arsenic
* Arsenic is removed from “Wood Treatments containing Arsenic, Creosote and
Pentachlorophenol” due to its new location in Toxic Heavy Metals.

New Namings of Existing Groups (effective from the May 2019 update):

Many groups were altered to reflect more commonly accepted naming conventions
for identified classes. For example, Halogenated Flame Retardants became
“Monomeric and Polymeric Flame Retardants” to emphasize the inclusion of both
types. Additionally, California Banned Solvents and VOCs in wet-applied products
are listed separately to distinguish the different requirements of the two
groups.

ALKYLPHENOLS AND RELATED COMPOUNDS

Alkylphenols are a large family of organic compounds used in a wide variety of
products, including cleaning products, beauty products, contraceptives,
coatings, fragrances, thermoplastics, carbonless copy paper, and agrochemicals.
Most concerns are focused on alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEs), which bioaccumulate
and have been shown to cause endocrine disruption in fish. APEs are in cleaning
products that end up in waterways from wastewater treatment effluent. Some
alkylphenols, especially nonylphenol, are being phased out in Europe, and more
research into their impacts is needed. A few governments with environmentally
preferable purchasing programs restrict or ban APEs

REF: http://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2013/04/978-87-92903-99-0.pdf

ANTIMICROBIALS (MARKETED WITH A HEALTH CLAIM)

Antimicrobials are a class of chemicals designed to kill or inhibit the growth
of microbes. Antimicrobials are frequently used in soaps and building materials,
including countertops, paints, and doorknobs. Nineteen antimicrobials were
banned in soaps and bodywashes by the FDA in 2016. Antimicrobials used in
building materials are regulated by the EPA as a pesticide, falling outside of
the scope of the FDA’s ban. Antimicrobials are often used as a preservative in
building materials, but the health benefits of their use have not been
established or substantiated. Some antimicrobials are endocrine disruptors, and
have been shown to impair learning and weaken muscle function.

Interest in building products with applied antimicrobial treatments has
increased significantly during the recent global COVID-19 pandemic. While
information regarding individual substances’ efficacy in controlling propagation
of SARS-CoV-2 remains incomplete, “no evidence yet exists to demonstrate that
products intended for use in interior spaces that incorporate antimicrobial
additives result in healthier populations.” (COVID-19 Statement: Understanding
Antimicrobial Ingredients in Building Materials, Perkins and Will and Healthy
Building Network (2020)) ILFI continues to monitor the situation and commits to
presenting current information about reported or potential human and
environmental health impacts of antimicrobial substances as commonly used within
the building industry and supporting its community of users in best utilizing
this information in their own practice.

REF:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/hbnweb.prod/uploads/files/Fj4p_COVID_Antimicrobial_WhitePaper_PerkinsWill.pdf

ASBESTOS COMPOUNDS

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that is used in a variety of construction materials
for its strength and heat resisting capabilities. It is often found in wall
insulation, vinyl floor coverings, paint compounds, roofing, heat-resistant
fabrics, and automobile brakes. Exposure occurs as asbestos fibers are released
into the air during use, demolition, work, building, or repair of
asbestos-containing materials. Asbestos is a known human carcinogen, increasing
risks of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis.

REF: http://www2.epa.gov/asbestos/learn-about-asbestos#asbestos

BISPHENOL A (BPA) AND STRUCTURAL ANALOGUES

Bisphenol A (BPA) and chemicals with structural or functional similarity, or BPA
structural analogues (NTP 2017), are used to manufacture polycarbonate plastics,
epoxy resins and other products. The plastics are used in many consumer
products, such as drink bottles, DVDs, eyeglass lenses, electronics, car parts,
and other products that must not break easily. Epoxy resins are used for lining
food cans and water pipes, and for many sales receipts. Most recent testing in
animal models and epidemiological studies in humans have shown that early life
BPA exposure adversely effect neurological function and development, as well as
adversely affect male sex organs (such as the prostate gland) in fetuses,
infants, and small children (Inadera 2015). Most health organizations advise
against the use of BPA for baby bottles and related infant products. BPA has
also been found in breast milk demonstrating that this chemical has the
potential to expose infant populations. BPA structural analogues such as
Bisphenol S (BPS) are often less legally restricted and considered a
“regrettable substitution” for BPA and pose many of the same risks as BPA.

REF:
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/noncancer/completed/bpa/index.html

REF: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4661290/

CALIFORNIA-BANNED SOLVENTS

California-banned solvents herein refer to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
designated as Group II Exempt Compounds by South Coast Air Quality Management
District (South Coast AQMD) Rule 102. This designation results from the US EPA’s
use of the criterion of smog formation (defined as an organic compound’s
contribution to the formation of ground-level ozone) to inform the regulatory
definition of a VOC. As a result, US federal air quality regulations focus on
VOCs that increase ground-level ozone concentrations, and exempt (meaning
exclude) compounds with negligible reactivity. The basis of this determination
is the ground-level ozone forming potential of ethane. Rules promulgated by
South Coast AQMD (including Rule 1113 – Architectural Coatings, Rule 1143 –
Consumer Paint Thinners and Multi-Purpose Solvents, and Rule 1168 – Adhesive and
Sealant Applications) therefore serve as gap-filling measures, limiting exempt
compounds’ product concentration and content by regulation when they are not
regulated by the EPA. Additionally following these Rules that limit the
percentage by weight of these exempt compounds in their respective product
types, cyclic, branched, or linear, volatile completely methylated siloxanes
(VMS) are not subject to the percentage by weight limit and are not included in
the LBC Red List. Though the South Coast AQMD is an authority having
jurisdiction (AHJ) overseeing specific sectors of the California building
products market, its restrictions on VOCs are considered industry exemplars and
have influenced a significant proportion of these product industries to conform
to its standards.

REF: https://www.aqmd.gov/home/rules-compliance/compliance/vocs/exempts/group-ii

CHLORINATED POLYMERS, INCLUDING PVC, PVDC, CHLOROPRENE (NEOPRENE MONOMER), AND
CPVC

PVC’s vinyl chloride monomer building block is a known human carcinogen,
according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, PVC is
a Persistent Organic Pollutant Source Material. Due to its chlorine content, PVC
often contains other Red List ingredients, such as cadmium, lead, and
phthalates. The manufacture and disposal of chlorinated polymers can result in
the production of dioxins and disposal phases. Dioxins are some of the most
potent toxins known to humans, with no known safe limit for exposure and a
strong propensity for bioaccumulation. In addition, dioxins are highly
persistent in the environment.

Chloroprene is a Persistent Organic Pollutant Source Material. Due to its
carbon- chlorine base, chloroprene contributes to the creation of dioxins at
different points in its life cycle (often manufacturing and/or disposal).
According to the World Health Organization, dioxins are some of the most potent
toxins known to humans, with no known safe limit for exposure and a strong
propensity for bioaccumulation. In addition, dioxins are highly persistent in
the environment.

Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) and Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene (CSPE) are
Persistent Organic Pollutant Source Materials: due to their carbon-chlorine
bases, these products contribute to the creation of dioxins and furans at
different points in their life cycle (often manufacturing and/or disposal).
According to the World Health Organization, dioxins are some of the most potent
toxins known to humans, with no known safe limit for exposure and a strong
propensity for bioaccumulation. In addition, dioxins are highly persistent in
the environment. Similarly, furans accumulate in animal fat, concentrating as
they travel up the food chain. Non-chlorinated polyethylene products are readily
available in many product categories.

REF (dioxins): http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/index.html

REF: https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=84

CHLOROBENZENES

Chlorobenzene is used primarily as a solvent, a degreaser for auto parts, and a
chemical intermediary for making other chemicals, so exposures are primarily a
risk to workers making or using it. Most exposures are through inhalation of
fumes. Short-term exposure can cause headaches, sleepiness, nausea, numbness,
muscle spasms, and in extreme cases, unconsciousness. Chronic (long-term)
exposure can cause increased signs of neurotoxicity (numbness, etc.) and
irritation of the upper respiratory tract. In animals, chronic exposure has also
caused kidney and liver damage. Chlorobenzene is broken down by sun and bacteria
in the environment and does not accumulate in the food chain.

REF: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=488&tid=87

CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCS) AND HYDROCHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (HCFCS)

According to US EPA, the depletion of the Earth’s protective ozone layer by
chlorofluorocarbons (or CFCs) is responsible for an increased incidence of skin
cancer, cataracts, impairment of human immune systems, and damage to wildlife.
CFCs have been banned from production in the United States since 1995.

* REF (CFC effects on ozone): http://www.epa.gov/ozone/science/sc_fact.html
* REF (ozone depletion and human
health): http://www.who.int/globalchange/climate/summary/en/index7.html

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are potent ozone-depleting compounds. While
less destructive than the now-banned chlorofluorocarbons, HCFCs are targeted for
gradual phaseout by the US EPA, with a total ban going into effect in the year
2030. According to US EPA, the depletion of the Earth’s protective ozone layer
is responsible for an increased incidence of skin cancer, cataracts, impairment
of human immune systems, and damage to wildlife.

REF: https://www.epa.gov/ods-phaseout

FORMALDEHYDE (ADDED)

Formaldehyde is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer
and the State of California as a known human carcinogen. Common health effects
at low levels of exposure to this volatile organic compound include irritation
and sensitization, and the compound also acts as an asthma trigger. Long-term
exposure is associated with nasal cancers and leukemia.

REF: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/risk/formaldehyde

MONOMERIC, AND POLYMERIC AND ORGANOPHOSPHATE HALOGENATED FLAME RETARDANTS (HFRS)

Halogenated Fire Retardants (HFRs) are a broad class of flame retardants
containing chlorine or bromine that have aroused concern due to their
exponential accumulation in human beings in recent years. HFRs are persistent
bioaccumulative toxins, meaning that they accumulate in organisms and the
broader environment, often reaching alarmingly high concentrations as they
travel up the food chain. In addition, certain halogenated products have shown
evidence of harm to humans and other animal species. According to the Washington
State Department of Ecology, for example, the toxicity endpoints of concern for
Penta-PBDE include adverse effects on neurological development, reproduction,
thyroid hormone disruption and possible liver toxicity.

HFRs include PBDE, TBBPA, HBCD, Deca-BDE, TCPP, TCEP, Dechlorane Plus, and other
retardants with bromine or chlorine. Boron is not an HFR and is allowed. Many
products, including virtually all foam insulations, contain HFRs.

REF:
https://ecology.wa.gov/Waste-Toxics/Reducing-toxic-chemicals/Addressing-priority-toxic-chemicals/PBDE

ORGANOTIN COMPOUNDS

Organotin compounds are a class of substances containing a bond between tin and
carbon. Organotin compounds are used in the production of PVC, silicone rubber,
and polyurethane. Exposure can cause memory loss, eye irritation, and liver
damage. Certain organotin compounds are neurotoxins and acute exposure can be
lethal. Organotin compounds are persistent in the environment and pose a threat
to aquatic life at elevated concentrations. Animal studies have indicated
organotin compounds might damage the immune and nervous systems.

REF:
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/organotins_508.pdf

PERFLUORINATED AND POLYFLUORINATED ALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) / PERFLUORINATED
COMPOUNDS (PFCS)

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, also commonly referred to as PFAS
substances, are synthetic manufactured fluorine-containing chemicals that exist
in many forms with many uses in building and consumer products. Perfluorinated
Compounds, or PFCs, are a subset of PFAS substances. Building product
applications of PFAS include roofing materials, paints and coatings, sealants,
caulks, adhesives, carpets, and more, providing highly desirable functions such
as weatherproofing, corrosion prevention, lubrication, friction reduction, and
grease and water resistance. PFAS and PFCs are characterized by their carbon
chains and many carbon-fluorine bonds, which are some of the strongest bonds in
all of organic chemistry. The wide range of uses for PFAS and PFCs increases the
potential for human and environmental exposure and is magnified by their
indefinite persistence in the environment. While most PFAS have not been studied
for their impacts to human and environmental health, their persistence
contributes to bioaccumulation to levels that we know to be potentially harmful.
In many cases, relatively safer non-fluorinated alternatives exist for these
applications and many building product sectors are already making a transition
to safer chemistries.

PFCs are chemical compounds that exist in many variations with many uses, such
as surface treatments to repel water and stains, acids used in chemistry and
research, in the semiconductor industry, and in some medical imaging devices.
Many of them are greenhouse gases and bioaccumulate in the environment, but are
not stored in human body fat. Most exposure is from contaminated food or
products that contain PFCs. Animal studies show endocrine disruption, immune
function issues, liver and pancreas damage, and developmental problems.

REF: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc/index.cfm

PHTHALATES (ORTHOPHTALATES)

Mounting evidence from animal studies show the hormone-disrupting potential of
phthalates, primarily orthophthalates, prompting the National Research Council
to urge the US Environmental Protection Agency to pursue a “cumulative risk
assessment” of this class of chemicals to determine their interactivity. Testing
by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that phthalates are
nearly ubiquitous in the US population, with highest concentrations in women and
in children aged 6 to 11 years. The endocrine disrupting nature of phthalates
has implications for childhood and reproductive development, as well as cancer
incidence. The European Union and over a dozen countries have banned the use of
phthalates in children’s products, as has the State of California.

* REF: https://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=24
* REF (cumulative risk assessment):
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12528

POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS (PCBS)

PCB manufacturing in the United States stopped in 1977 but the compound is
long-lasting in the environment (mostly in soils) around old manufacturing and
disposal sites, in old electrical transformers and electrical devices, and in
fish and their predators. PCBs make good coolants, lubricants, and insulators
for electrical equipment of all kinds. They are known to cause cancer in animals
and are probable human carcinogens, but exposure tends to be limited to people
who worked in the electrical industry many years ago, lived close to
manufacturing sites, and/or ate contaminated fish. Health effects also include
acne-like skin conditions and neurobehavioral and immunological changes in
children.

REF: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=30&po=10

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS)

PAHs are a group of chemicals that are often produced by the incomplete
combustion of organic material, particularly wood and fossil fuels. PAHs are
commonly inhaled in tobacco smoke or smoke from indoor stoves fueled by wood or
coal. They can also be ingested by eating burned meat. PAHs are also used to
manufacture certain types of dyes. Exposure to PAHs is linked to lung, skin, and
urinary cancer, and short-term exposure may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Almost
every American has detectable levels of PAHs in their body.

REF: https://superfund.oregonstate.edu/all-about-pahs

SHORT-CHAIN AND MEDIUM-CHAIN CHLORINATED PARAFFINS (SCCPS & MCCPS)

SCCPs are most commonly used as lubricants and coolants in metal cutting and
forming operations and are also used, along with MCCPs, as secondary
plasticizers and flame retardants in plastics, such as PVC. Human exposure can
be occupational, via inhalation of metalworking mists, or through contaminated
food and dermal contact. Environmental exposure is usually from manufacturing
activities, such as production, disposal, incineration, spills into waterways,
and sewage effluent. SCCPs and MCCPs are persistent and very bioaccumulative in
sediment. They have been found in marine mammals, other biota, and human breast
milk in both industrial and remote areas. Toxic effects on mammals can include
liver, hormone, and kidney damage that over a long term could lead to cancer in
those organs.

REF: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/short-chain-chlorinated-paraffins

TOXIC HEAVY METALS

Toxic heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium, chromium (VI), lead (added), and
mercury, pose a number of threats to health.

Arsenic is a carcinogen and can cause developmental issues.

The US Department of Health and Human Services and the International Agency for
Research on Cancer have determined that cadmium is a known human carcinogen
associated with lung cancer. Additionally, acute and long-term exposures can
lead to lung and kidney damage, bone loss, and hypertension. In sufficient
quantities, cadmium is lethal. Cadmium’s extreme toxicity means that
overexposure can occur even when only trace amounts are present, such as during
smelting and electroplating activities.

Chromium, primarily used in chrome plating materials, can cause breathing
problems as well as nasal and lung cancer. Although chromium is a naturally
occurring element and chromium III (trivalent chrome) is an essential nutrient,
chromium (VI) (hexavalent chrome) can cause serious health issues, especially
for factory workers who can inhale or ingest it during manufacturing. There has
been concern about it in drinking water and, lacking EPA maximum allowable
levels, the State of California set a public health goal for it. Chromium (VI)
is used primarily for chrome plating of metals for decorative or protective
finishes, making stainless steel, leather tanning, anti-corrosive agents for
paints, and in textile dyes and pigments. Long-term or high-level exposure
through inhalation can cause nasal irritation and ulcers, breathing problems,
and nasal and lung cancer in unprotected workers. Ingestion can cause anemia
and/or stomach tumors. Skin contact can cause skin ulcers and allergic
reactions.

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, the
environmental levels of lead have increased more than 1000-fold over the last
three centuries, due almost exclusively to human activities. Lead exposure is
damaging to virtually every organ and system in the human body, but is
particularly damaging to the brain and central nervous system—profoundly so for
young children and developing fetuses. Lead exposure is correlated with
decreased IQ and delayed learning in children; scientific research has
identified no safe level of lead exposure, and effects are irreversible.

According to the World Health Organization, mercury produces a suite of ill
effects, including harm to the nervous, digestive, and immune systems, and even
death. WHO lists children and developing fetuses as especially vulnerable to
damage from mercury. Mercury bioaccumulates in the environment, eventually
reaching concentrations thousands of times more intense than ambient levels.

REF: https://www.sixclasses.org/videos/certain-metals

REF: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=18&tid=3

REF: http://www.inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol58/mono58-2.html

REF: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hexavalentchromium/

REF: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs379/en/

REF: http://www.epa.gov/hg/effects.htm

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS) IN WET APPLIED PRODUCTS

VOCs are members of a large group of organic chemicals that can evaporate into
the indoor air under normal temperature conditions and into the outdoor air,
causing environmental impacts such as photochemical smog. Their health effects
vary widely, from respiratory irritants to human carcinogens (such as
formaldehyde), which is of concern since they are ingredients in many products
in the built environment. On-site wet applied products (paints, adhesives, and
sealants) are of particular concern because they can directly impact the health
of installers who may not be using breathing or dermal protection, unlike
in-factory wet applied materials that are (usually) applied with worker and
environmental protections in place.

Unlike other items that appear on the Red List, (VOCs) are not banned outright.
Wet-applied products (including coatings, adhesives, and sealants) applied on
site must meet the following established emissions and/or VOC content standards:
“Wet-applied products (including coatings, adhesives, and sealants) applied on
site must have VOC levels below the South Coast Air Quality Management District
(SCAQMD) Rule 1168 for Adhesives and Sealants or the CARB 2007 Suggested Control
Measure (SCM) for Architectural Coatings, as applicable.”

WOOD TREATMENTS CONTAINING CREOSOTE OR PENTACHLOROPHENOL

Many conventional wood treatments introduce a litany of human health and
environmental problems. The traits that make wood treatments effective at
retarding rot and insect damage are also effective at damaging many other forms
of life. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, creosote
exposure is associated with skin and scrotum cancer in humans, and liver,
kidney, and gestational problems in laboratory animals. Inorganic arsenic is not
only an acute toxin; it is a known human carcinogen. Pentachlorophenol is linked
to liver and immune system damage in humans, and reproductive and thyroid damage
in laboratory animals.

* REF: (creosote): https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=64&tid=18
* REF (pentachlorophenol): https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=400&tid=70

RED LIST AND WATCH LIST CASRN GUIDE

Download the Guide

PREVIOUS VERSIONS OF THE LBC RED LIST

The LBC Red List has moved to an annual update process as of 2021. Below are
previous versions of the LBC Red List that were introduced alongside version
updates of the Living Building Challenge Standard.

LBC 4.0 Red List and Watch List CASRN Guide (May 2019 – December 2020)

LBC 3.1 Red List CASRN Guide

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