KKDİK Regulation and Evaluation of Chlorinated Solvents Under KKDİK

Turkchem 21 May 2019 56 3 dk okuma

TURKCHEM

In our country, KKDİK legislation was published in the official gazette on 23 June 2017, meaning Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals[1]. KKDİK is Turkey's integrated version of the REACH regulation that came into force in the European Union on 1 June 2007.

The main objectives in the development of the REACH regulation are;

• Protecting human health and the environment from risks that chemicals may pose, • Increasing the competitiveness of the chemical industry, • Evaluating the hazards of substances and promoting alternative methods to reduce the number of tests conducted on animals [2]. The REACH regulation applies to all chemical substances. It is not only applied in industrial processes but also in our daily lives, for example in cleaning products, paints and also in items such as clothing, furniture and electrical household appliances. An important section of the REACH regulation concerns the registration of materials by manufacturers and importers/exporters. Registered manufacturers (producers/exporters/importers) must collect and compare information about the properties of substances they place on the market annually in quantities of 1 tonne or more. This information enables the assessment and control of the risk and harm posed by a substance, and this information must also be registered with the European Chemicals Agency in Helsinki. The main summary of these processes is that without data, there is no market. If risks cannot be managed, authorities may restrict the use of substances in different ways. In the long term, the goal is for more hazardous substances to be replaced by less hazardous ones [3]. In light of all this general information, Turkey's industry has entered a new chapter with the implementation of KKDİK in our country. The KKDİK Regulation is managed by the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. Process integration is being accelerated through training that covers manufacturers, importers and exporters. The evaluation of chemicals will be carried out by chemical evaluation specialists. A designated training process and certification process has been designed for this expertise. Manufacturers, exporters and importers must investigate, compare and evaluate the following main items and sub-items of each in order to identify and control the risks arising from the substances they produce and import [4]. • Substance Identity and Physical-Chemical Properties. • Manufacture and Uses. • Classification and Labelling. • Environmental Behaviour Properties. • Assessment of Hazards to Human Health. • Assessment of Physicochemical Hazards. • Assessment of Environmental Hazards. • PBT and PvB Assessment. • Exposure Assessment. • Risk Characterization.

Evaluation of Chlorinated Solvents under REACH

Chlorinated solvents (methylene chloride, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, chloroform) are widely used in many sectors as raw materials, cleaning agents and process reactants. They are widely preferred due to their relatively favourable costs and process performance. The absence of flammable and explosive properties is among their greatest advantages, however their chlorine content is of serious concern for both human health and the environment. In Europe, with the REACH regulation, the use of trichloroethylene in the carcinogen class (Group 1B) has been banned as of April 2016. Its use has only been permitted in applications such as asphalt testing where alternatives cannot be found. As a result of this restriction, the use of chemicals less harmful to human health and the environment has become necessary in processes where trichloroethylene was used in the market. With KKDİK in our country, restrictions have been introduced in the chlorinated solvent group. Table 1 lists the restrictions on chlorinated solvents that are currently in force and will come into force in future.

Table 1. Restrictions on Chlorine-Containing Substances under KKDİK • http://kimyasallar.csb.gov.tr/mevzuat

With KKDİK, restrictions and bans have been introduced regarding the use of dichloromethane, a substance widely used in the paint cleaning sector, due to high user exposure. Table 2 specifies the relevant restriction [5].

Table 2. Restriction of KKDIK for Dichloromethane / Table 2. Restriction of KKDIK for Dichloromethane • http://kimyasallar.csb.gov.tr/mevzuat

In conclusion, the main purpose of the KKDİK Regulation—the replacement of hazardous products with less hazardous ones—serves to benefit producers, consumers, processes and the natural environment. An attempt is being made to prevent human and natural disasters caused by harmful chemicals. It is also an incentive movement that forces the sector to develop new alternatives. Özge Özcan Metallurgy and Materials Engineer Sales and Marketing Manager EF Kimya Tic. ve San. Ltd. Şti.