US Proposes Curbing the Use of High-Concentration HFC-152a and HFC-134a in Aerosol Sprays

A proposed regulation to outlaw aerosol dusters containing more than 18 milligrams of 1,1-Difluoroethane (HFC-152a) or 1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) was introduced by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on July 10, 2024.

This rule will go into effect thirty days after the final rules are published, after public consultation, pending approval by the CPSC Commission.

The deadline for comments is September 30, 2024. So far, all reactions from the public have been positive. For live updates, click the federal register link below.

Banned Propellant Substances:

• HFC-152a; and
• HFC-134a.

Affected Demographics:

Importers, Exporters, and Manufacturers.

Limitation Thresholds

≤ 18 mg

Supplementary Constraints

New rules state that goods with high propellant levels will be restricted under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) for aerosol duster devices, which utilize compressed air to blast out air and clean electronics and other things. To ensure customer safety and regulatory compliance, manufacturers now have to certify these items and prominently identify the type of safe propellant used in them. 

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), changing the propellant in these items requires just minor production modifications and offers substantial financial benefits. This modification is anticipated to significantly minimize health dangers and produce an estimated $2 billion in economic benefits over the following three decades. More than 1,000 deaths are connected to inhaling events, according to records from 2012 to 2021. Because HFC-134a is less harmful and can tolerate little contamination during manufacture, it may fulfill the same criteria as HFC-152a, which has a safe exposure limit of 18 milligrams based on animal testing.