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Regulatory Information by Topic: Toxic Substances

Under a broad range of federal statutes, EPA gathers health, safety and exposure data; requires necessary testing; and controls human and environmental exposures for numerous chemical substances and mixtures. EPA regulates the production and distribution of commercial and industrial chemicals, in order to ensure that chemicals for sale and use in the United States do not harm human health or the environment.

Read more at Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

On this page:

Chemicals and Hazardous Substances

Read more about chemical reporting, oil spills, and community right-to-know at Emergencies.

Laws and Regulations

Compliance

Enforcement

Policy and Guidance

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Formaldehyde

See Formaldehyde Emission Standards for Composite Wood Products.

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Nanotechnology

See Cross-Cutting Issues: Nanotechnology

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Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

Although no longer commercially produced in the United States, PCBs may be present in products and materials produced before the 1979 PCB ban. EPA regulates the management, cleanup and disposal of PCB wastes and the management of PCB-containing materials and equipment still in use.

Laws and Regulations

Compliance

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Toxics Release Inventory

EPCRA Section 313 requires EPA, states and tribes to collect data annually on releases and transfers of certain toxic chemicals from industrial facilities and make the data available to the public in the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI).

Laws and Regulations

Compliance

Policy and Guidance

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