Pursuant to section 26 of the Hazardous Substances
and New Organisms Act 1996 ("the HSNO Act"), the Environmental Risk Management Authority hereby determines the following substances are not hazardous:
Expandable polystyrene (EPS) beads are defined as solid polymers comprising a minimum of 91% polystyrene (CAS number 9003-53-6) and a maximum of 9% of any of the blowing agents listed below, in any combination:
? n-pentane, CAS number 109-66-0
? cyclopentane, CAS number 287-92-3
? isopentane, CAS number 78-78-4
? Butane, CAS number 106-97-8
? isobutane, CAS number 75-28-5
? Propane, CAS number 74-98-6
EPS beads are not intended for sale to the general public. They will generally only be available in the workplace, specifically plastic manufacturers. Thus, although it
is recognised that the blowing agents in the beads
may out-gas to produce vapours with some risks
(e.g. flammability, health risks via inhalation), it is acknowledged that such risks will be managed by legislation other than the HSNO Act, i.e. the Land Transport Rule: Dangerous Goods 1999 (Rule 45001 under the Land Transport Act 1998) and the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
Dated at Wellington this 4th day of January 2004.
TONY HAGGERTY, Chair, Hazardous Substances Standing Committee of the Authority.