What is the difference between an SVHC list and a SIN list, and what other resources are there?
The SVHC list is the list of Substances of Very High Concern. Only the European community could come up with such a tactful term for “highly toxic stuff.” So far, the list is really just candidates – or substances that are likely to officially make the list when it does become final. As of this writing there are 38 substances on the SVHC list; the most recent additions were made in June 2010. The number is likely to increase to 165 identified substances by 2012. More familiar substances on the list include types of lead, arsenic, and coal tar. Substances of Very High Concern include substances which are: • Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or toxic to Reproduction • Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic (PBT) or very Persistent and very Bioaccumulative (vPvB) (defined by REACH criteria), and/or • identified causing probable serious effects to humans or the environment of an equivalent level of concern as those above, e.g. endocrine disrupters SVHCs have hazardous properties of very high concern.
