Summary of information received in response to the data gathering initiative on certain cobalt-containing substances (2012)
Purpose
To increase transparency and to facilitate access to information on substances in commerce in Canada, the Government of Canada is providing a summary of the information received in response to data gathering on certain cobalt-containing substances. The data gathering was conducted under the Substance Groupings Initiative of the second phase of the Chemicals Management Plan (CMP), to support risk assessment and risk management activities for these substances.
This document offers an overview of the information gathered under this initiative and includes general information on what was received including the type of submission, the main substances reported, activities, substance functions and commercial uses reported, the main industrial sectors involved and the scientific studies reported for each substance. To complement this summary, a compilation of the non-confidential information received is available in Excel format, and provides a more complete dataset. Both documents refer to responses to the Notice with respect to certain cobalt-containing substances, which was published in the Canada Gazette in June 2012, as well as information provided on a voluntary basis.
Important information about this summary:
· The information provided under the Notice was collected for the 2011 calendar year.
· Some information gathered under this initiative was considered Confidential Business Information (CBI)[1] by the submitters. While this summary and the Excel compilation were prepared using the full dataset (including CBI), CBI was masked in both documents prior to publication. Masking refers to the process whereby the information is used in such a manner so that CBI is not revealed. This can be done by, for example, aggregating data or by providing quantity ranges. For instances, when masking could not adequately provide protection, CBI data elements were removed from the final version.
· Sensitive information,[2] such as names of submitters, names of their customers and suppliers, or any information that could identify a submitter, was also not included.
· The s.71 Notice targeted specific information to address specific data needs identified for the substances. As such, the information gathered and reported here does not represent the entire range of commercial activities in Canada with the substances. The specific reporting requirements, exclusions and definitions applicable to the Notice can be found in Schedule 2 and Schedule 3 to the Notice.
· Certain submitters chose to provide information that was not legally required under the Notice. This voluntary information is included here.
It should be noted that this document does not include an assessment of the potential risks these substances may represent for the environment of the health of Canadians. Screening assessment reports for the Cobalt-containing substances can be found on the Cobalt-Containing Substance Grouping webpage.
Background
Canada’s Chemicals Management Plan (CMP) is jointly administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada under the CEPA and aims at reducing the risks posed by substances to Canadians and their environment. Under the CMP, the government gathers available information to support risk assessment and risk management decisions. When information needs continue to exist, a variety of approaches can be used, such as information-gathering requirements issued under the CEPA, voluntary information-gathering initiatives, research, monitoring and surveillance as well as international cooperation.
On October 8, 2011 an announcement was published in the Canada Gazette, setting how the Government of Canada planned to address approximately 500 substances in nine groups that had been selected as the next round of priorities under the second phase of the CMP.
In June 2012, as part of the Substance Groupings Initiative, a Notice was issued in the Canada Gazette, (Part I: Vol. 146, No. 22 – June 2, 2012) under section 71 of the CEPA and applied to 16 substances which are part of the Cobalt-Containing Substance Grouping. This Notice collected information from the 2011 calendar year and is the basis for this summary.
Organizations that did not meet the reporting requirements of the Notice but possessed information required in the Notice, or any other information to assist with the assessment of these cobalt-containing substances, were encouraged to provide it on a voluntary basis. Moreover, those who had a commercial interest in the substances (whether past, future or potential), or simply wanted to be kept informed on the outcome of the assessment, were encouraged to identify themselves as stakeholders by completing a Declaration of Stakeholder Interest.
Additional information on the Substance Groupings Initiative can be found on the Chemical Substances Website. For more information on the Cobalt-Containing Substance Grouping, including the associated section 71 Notice and risk assessments, please consult the corresponding substance grouping webpage.
Summary of Information Collected
The following tables summarize both mandatory and voluntary responses received on the 16 substances listed in the section 71 Notice.
Table 1: Submissions received for Cobalt-containing substances
Type of Submission / Number of Submissions ReceivedSection 71 Notice / 24
Declaration of Stakeholder Interest / 46
Other voluntary submissions of information / 28
Table 2: Cobalt-containing substances reported
Data Received / Number of Substances (16)Reported
Via responses to the Notice / 7
Via voluntary responses such as the Declaration of Stakeholder Interest / 15*
Substances reported in responses to the Notice
Manufactured / 1
Imported / 2
Used / 2
Exported / 2
Reported (substances for which a specific activity was not required) / 5
Intended for use in commercial activities / 1
Intended for use in consumer activities / 1
Intended for use by or for children / 1
*Number of explicitly declared substances. However, a total of 23 organizations indicated an interest in all 16 substances by means of a “blanket” Declaration of Stakeholder Interest.
Table 3: Number of companies reporting on cobalt-containing substances
# of times reported / CAS RN[3] / Substance Name12 / 27253-31-2 / Neodecanoic acid, cobalt salt
8 / 61789-51-3 / Naphthenic acids, cobalt salts
8 / 21041-93-0 / Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2)
4 / 513-79-1 / Carbonic acid, cobalt(+2) salt (1:1)
3 / 1560-69-6 / Propanoic acid, cobalt(2+) salt
1 / 10210-68-1 / Cobalt, di-µ-carbonylhexacarbonyldi-, (Co-Co)
1 / 12602-23-2 / Cobalt, bis[carbonato(2-)]hexahydroxypenta-
Table 4: Total reported quantities of cobalt-containing substances
To protect CBI, some total quantities are provided in the form of ranges. Refer to the Compilation of non-confidential data received (Excel) for individual quantities reported under the Notice.
Activity / CAS RN / Substance Name / Total Quantity (kg)Manufactured / 21041-93-0 / Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) / 100,000-1,000,000
Imported / 21041-93-0 / Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) / 10,000-100,000
513-79-1 / Carbonic acid, cobalt(+2) salt (1:1) / 480
Used / 21041-93-0 / Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) / 10,000-100,000
10210-68-1 / Cobalt, di-µ-carbonylhexacarbonyldi-, (Co-Co) / 50,138
Exported / 21041-93-0 / Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2) / 100,000-1,000,000
10210-68-1 / Cobalt, di-µ-carbonylhexacarbonyldi-, (Co-Co) / 4,166
Unspecified (specific activity not required for Part 2 substances)* / 27253-31-2 / Neodecanoic acid, cobalt salt / 100,000-1,000,000
61789-51-3 / Naphthenic acids, cobalt salts / 10,000-100,000
1560-69-6 / Propanoic acid, cobalt(2+) salt / 10,000-100,000
513-79-1 / Carbonic acid, cobalt(2+) salt (1:1) / 1,000-10,000
12602-23-2 / Cobalt, bis[carbonato(2-)]hexahydroxypenta- / 100-1,000
*Obtained from information gathered under section 7 and 8 for Part 2 substances.
Table 5: Industry sectors, identified by NAICS[4] codes, most frequently reported, and non-confidential cobalt-containing substances reported for each sector
NAICS codes with the same first four digits are grouped together to determine the overall ranking. Refer to the Compilation of non-confidential data received (Excel) for all non-confidential NAICS codes reported under the Notice and associated substances.
# times reported / Industry sector (NAICS Codes and descriptions) / CAS RN6 / 331410: Non-ferrous metal (except aluminum) smelting and refining / 21041-93-0
5 / Resin, synthetic rubber, and artificial and synthetic fibres and filaments manufacturing
325210: Resin and synthetic rubber manufacturing
32521: Resin and synthetic rubber manufacturing / 21041-93-0
3 / Other chemical product manufacturing
325999: Chemical product manufacturing
32599: Chemical product manufacturing / 21041-93-0
2 / 324110: Petroleum refineries / 10210-68-1
2 / 325189: All other basic inorganic chemical manufacturing / 21041-93-0
Table 6: Substance Function Codes[5] reported for cobalt-containing substances and non-confidential substances reported for each code
Refer to the Compilation of non-confidential data received (Excel) for all non-confidential Substance Function Codes reported, as well as the quantity of substance manufactured, imported or used for each applicable code.
# times reported / Substance Function Code5 / Title of Code / CAS RN4 / U999 / Other (various descriptions) / 10210-68-1
21041-93-0
3 / U034 / Paint additives and coating additives not otherwise covered in this table / 21041-93-0
2 / U026 / Processing aids, not otherwise covered in this table / 21041-93-0
2 / U015 / Intermediates / 21041-93-0
1 / U024 / Process regulators / 21041-93-0
Table 7: Consumer and Commercial Codes most frequently reported for cobalt-containing substances, and non-confidential substances reported for each code
Refer to the Compilation of non-confidential data received (Excel) for all non-confidential Consumer and Commercial Codes reported under the Notice, as well as the quantity of substance manufactured, imported or used for each applicable code.
# times reported / Consumer and Commercial Code / Title of Code / CAS RN19 / C202 / Paints and Coatings / 1560-69-6
21041-93-0
27253-31-2
61789-51-3
11 / C303 / Plastic and Rubber materials / 1560-69-6
21041-93-0
27253-31-2
61789-51-3
5 / C406 / Agricultural Products, mixtures or manufactured items (non-pesticidal) / 513-79-1
12602-23-2
3 / C462 / Automotive, aircraft and transportation / 27253-31-2
*
3 / C204 / Building or Construction Materials not otherwise covered in this table / 21041-93-0
27253-31-2
61789-51-3
*Additional substances were reported in association with this Consumer and Commercial Code, but the information was claimed as CBI by the submitters.
Tables 8, 9 and 10 refer to substances most frequently reported as intended for commercial use, for consumer use, or for use by or for children, whether alone or in mixtures, products or manufactured items.
Refer to the Compilation of non-confidential data received (Excel) for all non-confidential intended use information reported under this Notice.
Table 8: Cobalt-containing substances reported as intended for use in commercial activities
# times reported / CAS RN / Substance Name6 / 21041-93-0 / Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2)
Table 9: Cobalt-containing substances reported as intended for use in consumer activities
# times reported / CAS RN / Substance Name2 / 21041-93-0 / Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2)
Table 10: Cobalt-containing substances reported as intended to be used by or for children
# times reported / CAS RN / Substance Name1 / 21041-93-0 / Cobalt hydroxide (Co(OH)2)
Table 11: Unpublished studies received (any calendar year) for cobalt-containing substances. “Y” indicates that at least one study was received for the applicable endpoint
CAS RN / Mammalian toxicity / Human epidemiology / In vitro and in vivo genotoxicity12602-23-2 / Y
21041-93-0 / Y / Y / Y
27253-31-2 / Y / Y / Y
513-79-1* / Y
61789-51-3 / Y / Y / Y
* Studies were not requested under the Notice for the CAS RN in question.
Contacts
For additional questions about information gathered on the Cobalt-Containing Substance Grouping, please contact us via the Substances Management Information Line.
1
[1] “Confidential Business Information” or “CBI” is the information for which a request for confidentiality has been made under section 313 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).
[2] Sensitive information is information for which a request for confidentiality has not necessarily been made under section 313 of CEPA, but that is provided to the Government in confidence.
[3] Chemical Abstract Service Registry Number
[4] North American Industry Classification System codes
[5] Substance Function Codes are referred to as “Industrial Function Codes” in the Notice.