What is DEHP? How is DEHP regulated? The history of DEHP in ballasts DEHP and Superfund Liability Why is DEHP dangerous? How can I dispose of my DEHP ballasts?
What is DEHP? DEHP is di (2 ethylhexyl) phthalate. It is a clear, odorless, toxic liquid. It’s most common use is in the manufacture of plastics. Since 1979 it has also been used as a dielectric fluid in "wet" capacitors used in fluorescent light ballasts and other equipment.
What is the history of DEHP in fluorescent lighting ballasts? Prior to 1979, PCB was used as a dielectric fluid in the capacitors of fluorescent light ballasts. But the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) banned its further use, and after some experimentation, ballasts manufacturers substituted DEHP. Gradually, ballast makers began to replace "wet" DEHP capacitors with "dry" metallic ones, but the use of DEHP in ballasts continued, in some cases until the early 1990’s.
Why is DEHP dangerous? Animal studies have shown that DEHP exposure causes liver cancer, birth defects, infertility and is also associated with thyroid, pancreas and kidney damage. The United States Department of Health and Human Services classifies DEHP as a "probable human carcinogen".
How is DEHP regulated? Under federal law, DEHP is regulated by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), "Superfund", Superfund Amendments, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, OSHA, and by the Food and Drug Administration. In addition, at least 10 states and 2 cities have additional regulations.
Does DEHP disposal expose me to Superfund Liability? YES. DEHP is a listed "hazardous substance". Anyone responsible for disposing of DEHP (or any other "hazardous substance") is a Potentially Responsible Party (PRP) and can be held liable for clean-up costs. A PRP can be anyone who played a significant role in the generation or disposal of the waste. This can include building owners, contractors, ESCO’s consultants, utility companies, and trash haulers. Since the average superfund clean-up is more than $30 million, this potential liability should concern everyone.
How can I dispose of my DEHP ballasts? In order to eliminate superfund clean-up liability, the DEHP must be destroyed. There are two ways to do this: whole ballast incineration and ballast recycling/ incineration. The better and most cost effective way, is recycling/incineration. This is a process in which the DEHP contaminated materials are removed from the ballast and incinerated. The remainder of the ballast (some 80% by weight) is recycled and re-used. This process allows for complete destruction of the DEHP while conserving valuable resources for re-use. It is also about half the cost of whole ballast incineration. For more information about ballast disposal, please contact Green Lights Recycling, Inc.
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