Northern Environmental address Nitrilotriacetic Acid (NTA) use before legislation!

Nitrilotriacetic Acid (NTA) – Hazard Classification

Nitrilotriacetic Acid (NTA) has been in widespread used across the world, primarily in cleaning applications. We have used the Sodium salt of this material for many years and it could be seen on product safety data sheets identified by its CAS number 5064-31-3.

Some time ago, the ECB (European Chemical Bureau) published proposals to classify NTA and NTA salts as a Category 3, possible carcinogen. The major European producer of NTA, the BASF Group, fought strenuously to prevent this happening, on the grounds that no new information had been brought to light and that the risks were negligible. Despite the best efforts of the major producers, the proposal has found its way into legislation and NTA and its salts will be regulated through the 31st Adaptation of the Technical Progress (ATP) of the EU Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548EWG), carrying the Harmful classification with the ‘R40: Limited evidence of a carcinogenic effect’ risk phrase.
A minimum specific concentration limit of 5% has been set by the ECB. This means that any product containing 5% or more of NTA or its salts, will be classified as Harmful, R40 and need to be labelled as such, a situation that we believe the users of these products will find of major concern when carrying out their risk assessments.

Whilst products containing less than 5% of NTA would not require the Harmful R40 labelling, NTA would still be listed in Section 3 of the MSDS, which we feel would raise just as many doubts and concerns in the user. We feel that this change in classification of NTA severely compromises the market viability of products containing this raw material.

During the ‘consultation’ period, we at took the view (quite correctly as it transpired) that the ECB would almost certainly prevail in their wish to make this change to the classification of NTA. In anticipation of this, we instituted a development programme to source alternatives to NTA that would in the first instance preclude the necessity to change our products classification and labelling to include the R40 phrase, but more importantly, would have no effect on the performance levels of the affected products. After extensive performance testing of numerous candidates, in a wide range of our cleaning product formulations, we are delighted to say that we have sourced a suitable alternative and have successfully replaced NTA completely across our product range, the transition taking place over the last few months. The material we have chosen to replace NTA has an added benefit in that it carries no hazard classification itself and does not need to be listed on the material safety data sheet.

Classifications are not likely to have altered, although a small number of products may have a reduced level of hazard.

Please be assured that Northern Environmental will continue to offer the best possible service and endeavour to ensure that our products continue to meet current and future legislative requirements with the Environment as its highest priority.
Should you have any queries on this subject, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Simon Doderer
Managing Director

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