EPA found on Friday the deodorizing chemical behind moth balls, urinal cakes and continuous air fresheners may lead to toxic effects on human development, livers and the sense of smell.
According to a draft risk evaluation, p-dichlorobenzene causes “unreasonable risks” to workers’ and consumers’ health. The determination, if finalized, triggers a rulemaking process under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Inhaling p-dichlorobenzene, a white, pungent, often granular substance, may also lead to negative effects on kidneys, reproductive organs, and the nervous and respiratory systems. That could manifest as reduced grip strength or postnatal mortality.
EPA’s draft review concluded the chemical, also known as 1,4-dichlorobenzene, is “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” It’s a less severe cancer rank than the National Toxicology Program, which lists it as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen,” and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classifies it as possibly carcinogenic to humans. The not-likely determination matched the pesticide office’s 2018 registration review.
