The Minister of the Environment has accepted the siloxane D5 assessment by the Siloxane D5 Board of Review, and the material will be removed from a proposed list of toxic substances under the Canadian Environment Protection Act (CEPA). Siloxane D5 had previously been determined safe for human health by Health Canada.
Siloxane D5 is an odorless, colorless liquid that is used as an ingredient in a number of personal care products, including deodorants, antiperspirants, cosmetics, shampoos and body lotions. It is also used as a dry cleaning solvent and in industrial cleaning.
The Siloxane D5 Board of Review was established by the Minister of the Environment under subsection 333 (1) of CEPA. The board consisted of three renowned toxicologists, possessing expertise in human health and the environment. The mandate of the board was to inquire into the nature and extent of the danger posed by the substance. It conducted a scientific review of studies and reports on siloxane D5, and assessed the extent of the danger posed by the substance. It submitted its report, together with its recommendations and the evidence that was presented to it, to the Minister of the Environment on Oct. 20, 2011. The board determined that siloxane D5 did not pose a risk to human health and would not pose a danger to the environment or its biological diversity in the future.