Hydrogenated didecene, HTTD and your health

Learn about these substances, their health risks and how to reduce your exposure.

• About hydrogenated didecene and HTTD
• Safety of hydrogenated didecene and HTTD
• What we're doing
• What you can do

About hydrogenated didecene and HTTD

Hydrogenated didecene and HTTD are manufactured substances that don't occur naturally in the environment.

Products found in Canada that may contain these substances include:

• firearm cleaner, lubricant and preservation (CLP) products
• certain cosmetics, such as:
  • lipsticks
  • make-up
  • cleansers
  • moisturizers
• lubricants and greases, such as:
  • gear oil
  • engine oil
  • transmission oil

These substances share similar chemical structures and are part of the Decenes Group of substances under Canada's Chemicals Management Plan.

Safety of hydrogenated didecene and HTTD

Under Canada's Chemicals Management Plan, we review and manage the potential risks that chemical substances can pose to people in Canada and the environment. We recently completed a chemical risk assessment for the Decenes Group of substances.

Our assessment confirmed that hydrogenated didecene and HTTD may pose a risk to your health when inhaled. Aerosol or spray forms of firearm CLP products containing these substances may damage the nasal cavity or lungs.

We're also proposing that these substances:

• aren't harmful to the environment
• don't pose a risk to your health when they come into contact with the skin or mouth

What we're doing

To help reduce exposures to hydrogenated didecene and HTTD, we're proposing:

• adding it to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
  • this allows Canada to implement preventive or control actions for the life cycle of the substance, including:
    • research and development
    • manufacture and import
    • sale
    • use
    • storage
    • transport
    • disposal or recycling
• actions to reduce inhalation exposure of hydrogenated didecene and HTTD in aerosol or spray forms of firearm CLP products available to consumers. This may include:
  • restrictions on the import and/or sale of aerosol or spray forms of firearm CLP products containing hydrogenated didecene or HTTD
  • labelling requirements regarding the use of personal protective equipment

You may provide any comments on our risk management approach during the 60-day public comment period.

What you can do

You can take steps to reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals:

• use non-aerosol or non-spray formats of CLP products containing hydrogenated didecene and HTTD, when available
• read product labels and follow all safety warnings and directions
  • follow the manufacturer's directions to dispose of the product safely

If you're unsure if your product contains hydrogenated didecene or HTTD, contact the manufacturer.

If you're exposed to hydrogenated didecene or HTTD at work, talk to your employer and occupational health and safety (OHS) official about:

• relevant laws
• safe handling and storage practices
• requirements under OHS legislation and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

Related links

• Use household chemicals safely
• Measuring your exposure to chemicals
• Canada's systems for addressing chemicals
• Overview of the Chemicals Management Plan

For industry and professionals

• Decenes group assessment
• Decenes group – information sheet
• Risk assessment of chemical substances
• Decenes group risk management approach