Silicones Environmental, Health, and Safety Center

Monitoring Program to Assess Impact of Personal Care Products Restrictions Finds Low Level of D4 and D5
In January of 2018, the European Union issued a REACH restriction on the use of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) and decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) in washoff personal care products (PCPs). To assess the impact of this REACH restriction, CES-Silicones Europe (CES) began monitoring the amount of D4 and D5 being released to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Real World Global Monitoring Data Demonstrate Siloxanes Pose Negligible Risk to Environment
The silicones industry, independent scientific panels, and government authorities in several world regions committed significant resources to better understand the environmental presence and behavior of siloxanes used to make silicones.

Real World Monitoring Data Indicate D4 Poses Negligible Risk to Environment
The silicones industry worked with EPA to design and implement a monitoring program that would produce the exposure (concentration) data the agency needs to conduct a thorough and scientifically sound environmental evaluation of D4.

Silicone Automotive Applications
Silicones help deliver the strength, adhesion, durability and fuel efficiency needed for vehicles to operate smoothly in extreme temperatures.

Silicone Building and Construction Applications
Building and construction is the primary user sector of silicones worldwide. Silicone products are used in construction to protect, protect, strengthen, preserve and provide aesthetic and innovative features to buildings.

Silicone Electrical Machinery, Electronics and Telecommunication Applications
Silicones have played an integral role in advancements in computer technology, telecommunications and micro- and macro-electronics and electrical power distribution.

Silicone Medical Applications
Medical-grade silicones can be important components of many health care and medical devices because of their unique characteristics that make them gentle to the body, such as their use to create flexible, wearable medical devices and health-monitoring devices.

Silicone Textiles Applications
Silicones have revolutionized fabrics of all kinds. They help fabrics retain shape, texture, resistance to abrasion and they help achieve uniformity and brilliance of color.

Silicone Transportation Equipment Application
Silicones deliver the strength, adhesion and durability needed in high-performance vehicles, ocean vessels, planes and spacecraft.