NASSCO has issued a statement on the 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC) that awaits signature by the Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If signed, the report would list styrene as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”
NASSCO believes that “without solid evidence of a link between styrene and cancer in humans, we should avoid unfounded concern that would adversely affect a number of businesses, including those within the sewer industry.” Styrene is a major ingredient in cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), a low cost solution for rehabilitating and repairing pipes. “This rapidly growing technology provides jobs for many people within the trenchless industry,” a NASSCO press release said.
“The classification of styrene as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” would have a major impact not only on the individuals employed, but the communities served. Pipeline rehabilitation costs could increase significantly and repair methods could revert back to less efficient technologies, including digging up and replacing entire pipelines.”
According to the American Composites Manufacturer’s Association (ACMA), more than 750,000 Americans are employed in jobs that depend on styrene. In the United States and Europe, people have worked with styrene safely for 50 years. Several long-term studies examined 60,000 health records of workers exposed to styrene.
These findings showed no link between styrene exposure and the development of cancer in humans. Federal agencies, including OSHA and EPA, are aware of scientific data and have not concluded that there is sufficient risk to require additional protections.
At a June 3 hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee oversight panel, Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.) asked the administration’s regulatory review chief Cass Sunstein to review the matter, citing concerns that a carcinogen label could have a negative impact on jobs. Sunstein agreed to raise this issue with his colleague John Holdren, director of the White House office of Science and Technology Policy.
NASSCO encouraged industry representatives to support its position by writing to their elected officials in support of ACMA’s efforts toward re-evaluation of the styrene classification. For more information, visit www.nassco.org or www.acmanet.org.
