Bioaccumulative (PBT Criterion)

The second PBT criterion under TSCA Section 6(h). A substance is bioaccumulative when it accumulates in living organisms faster than eliminated. All five TSCA PBT chemicals were determined bioaccumulative through EPA 2018 peer-reviewed assessments.

TSCA § 6(h); EPA PBT Assessments (2018); Docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0314.

Bioaccumulation is why Section 6(h) provides expedited authority. The regulatory standard is reduce exposure to the extent practicable, not cost-benefit. This means the bar for justifying continued use is set by practicability.

DecaBDE bioaccumulates in sediment-dwelling organisms and biomagnifies through food webs, qualifying it for the expedited Section 6(h) pathway.