27-05-2025
One Car Flame Retardant TCEP Deemed Carcinogenic: ICMR to NGT
New Delhi: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has submitted its response to National Green Tribunal (NGT) concerning the presence of potentially carcinogenic chemicals in car interiors.
The response comes in the wake of a study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, which found that several cars contain flame retardant chemicals considered potentially carcinogenic—specifically, Tris (1-chloro-isopropyl) phosphate (TCIPP), Tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), and Tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). Of these, the ICMR has recognised TCEP as a carcinogen.
The ICMR's report, dated May 22, referenced several leading international agencies, including International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organisation, United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), US National Toxicology Program (US-NTP), and European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). These organisations have published systematic reviews identifying carcinogenic chemicals to which humans may be exposed through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact.
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ICMR stated that, according to IARC, the chemicals are classified into different groups based on the strength of evidence—human carcinogen, probable carcinogen, possible carcinogen, and unclassified.
"As of today, only one of the compounds, namely TCEP, qualifies for any of these categories, specifically Group 3 (unclassified carcinogen), while the other two chemicals, namely TDCIPP and TCIPP, do not appear on the list.
In addition to the above, it is humbly submitted that India follows the World Health Organisation-IARC on carcinogens," stated ICMR. "India follows the WHO-IARC classification on carcinogens," the ICMR stated in its submission.
Additionally, ICMR offered to conduct a systematic review of existing scientific literature on the carcinogenic potential of these compounds if the NGT requires it. While the council has the laboratory expertise and equipment to test biological samples such as blood for traces of these chemicals, it clarified that it does not have the mandate or technical capacity to analyse environmental samples like air from car interiors.
"Detection of TCIPP, TDCIPP, and their metabolites in biological samples can be carried out, especially for individuals regularly exposed to enclosed car environments," ICMR noted.
