APPENDIX 5 : Refractory Ceramic Fibres

Presentation by Arun Chatterjee
NPRI-Program Development
October 5-6, 2004

High temperature applications
- Lining in industrial furnaces, pipe wrapping, welding protection, gaskets, filters, etc.
Man made fibres: combination of alumina and silica.
1993 estimated only ~4kt land filled per year and <42kg released to air per year
Assessed CEPA toxic
- track 2 substance (requires life cycle management)
Suspected non-threshold carcinogen
Very low probability of exposure or effects to the public
- exposure principally related to occupational environments

Purpose was to gather emission data to determine if controls were needed
Affected industries invited to sign, several declined
- 6 companies are participating
Under agreement signatories monitor for 5 years, review data after 2
- Signatories completed this for 2002 and 2003 and submitted data to EC
Expected participation of industry
Expected that facilities will maintain or decrease emissions
Expected that facilities would participate in a product stewardship program
Recommendation to remove NPRI reporting from EPA if RCFs added to NPRI

10 tonnes-manufacture and/or process, OR facilities that manufacture and/or process RCFs
Reporting requirements for manufacture and process, not use
All affected facilities required to report, not just signatories
Will not affect many facilities
- Only six signatories to the EPA plus several others which declined to sign

RCFs to be added to the NPRI for the 2005 Reporting Year
- Reporting requirements only for manufacture and processing
RCFs are present in negligible amounts, but are assessed as probable carcinogens at any level
- HC recommended to reduce exposure whenever possible
New Environmental Performance Agreement is being reviewed; target date for signature is January 2005