Why is Musk Xylene a REACH High Concern Chemical?
Increasing health and environmental concerns about musk xylene have been emerging over several decades, and its use has been declining since the mid 1980s. It was identified as a Substance of Very High Concern under REACH because of its very persistent (resists breaking down in the environment) and very bioaccumulative (when a body absorbs a toxic chemical more quickly than it is broken down or excreted) properties. It is also recognized as toxic to reproduction, category 2 (sufficient evidence from long-term animal studies and other relevant information to presume it impairs human fertility) ; as carcinogenic, category 3 (suspected but the available information is not adequate to presume it is carcinogenic). It is also recognized as explosive and dangerous for the environment, especially for water based organisms, according to the European Directive 67/548/EEC on the classification, packaging and labeling of dangerous substances. Consequences of High Concern Status Once a chemical has
