From Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia.
The High Production Volume
Chemicals Programme (HPV
Programme) is an international
programme to assess the potential
hazard of chemicals which are
produced in high volumes. The OECD
defines HPV as production or
import of greater than 1,000
tonnes per year in at least one
Member country or in the European
Union region.
The OECD assumes that high
production is a proxy for high
exposure.
The OECD HPV Programme is
supported by the
International Council of Chemical
Associations (ICCA) HPV
Initiative the chemical industries
cooperatively are carrying out.
Various studies found that
insufficient data was available on
the health effects of common
chemicals. The US
EPA found in a study before
1999 that of 2,800 chemicals
investigated 93% did not have
sufficient data.
The US government defines high
production volume chemicals as
those
organic non-polymer
chemicals with greater than
1,000,000 pounds (450 t)
production or import into the US.
These chemicals are required to
have additional and highly
detailed biological and
environmental testing completed.
The US testing program was
begun in 1999 with an expected
completion date of 2004.
