Chemicals of High Concern List

Maine law requires that by July 1, 2012, the Department of Environmental Protection publish a list of no more than 70 chemicals of high concern.  Development of Maine’s list of Chemicals of High Concern (CHC) is to be cooperatively determined by the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention (“Maine CDC”), and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (“Department”).  (38 M.R.S.A. § 1693-A(1)).   A chemical currently listed on Maine’s chemicals of concern list may be included on the CHC list if there is a determination of strong, credible scientific evidence that the chemical is a reproductive or developmental toxicant, endocrine disruptor or human carcinogen, and there is strong, credible scientific evidence that the chemical meets one or more of the following criteria:

• The chemical has been found through biomonitoring studies to be present in human blood, human breast milk, human urine or other bodily tissues or fluids;
• The chemical has been found through sampling and analysis to be present in household dust, indoor air or drinking water or elsewhere in the home environment; or
• The chemical has been added to or is present in a consumer product used or present in the home.

The process used to determine Maine’s CHC list is summarized within supporting documentation provided here. 

• Maine Chemicals of High Concern, Process Documentation and Appendicies July 1, 2012 (pdf)
  • Appendix I Candidate CHC (pdf) :: Appendix I Candidate CHC (excel)
  • Appendix II Final List of CHC (pdf) :: Appendix II Final List of CHC (excel)
  • Appendix III CHC Supporting Documentation (pdf)
  • Appendix IV References (pdf)
  • Appendix V Determining Presence in Consumer Products Process and References (pdf)
• Consumer Product Research Findings (pdf) :: Consumer Product Research Findings (excel)