California Rejects Offer for Caprolactam Study

Dalton, GA, July 5, 2011 -- California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has rejected the carpet industry's offer to fund additional research aimed at clearing up the controversy over the agency's proposed reductions in caprolactam exposure levels.

Carpet and Rug Institute Vice President Frank Hurd said OEHHA's labeling of caprolactam as a potential hazard to humans is unfounded, particularly in light of the abundance of recent data proving otherwise.

OEHHA's recommendation, which attempts to reduce the allowable exposure levels of caprolactam would likely have far-reaching impact on the use of Nylon 6 for carpet fiber, CRI said.

Caprolactam is used in the production of Nylon 6, the fiber that accounts for approximately 30% of U.S. carpets.

OEHHA based its recommendationon a rat inhalation toxicity study, which exposed rats to extremely high levels of caprolactam in aerosol form, in contrast to the vapor (gas) exposures found in real-life settings.

The carpet industry invited OEHHA to participate in an additional studym and offered to bear the cost of the research in return for OEHHA's agreement to delay further analysis of caprolactam until the completion of the new study. OEHHA declined the offer, CRI said.