Recently, the Ministry of Environment of South Korea plans to designate lead compounds and benzene as restricted substances according to the K - REACH Act. This action aims to reduce the use of these two types of chemical substances in specific applications to prevent their potential impacts on the environment and human health. This article will deeply analyze the definition of restricted substances, the impacts of lead compounds and benzene on the environment and health, and the potential impacts of relevant policies on the industry.

According to Article 27 of South Koreas K-REACH Act, if a chemical substance is determined to pose significant hazards in specific applications, it will be listed as a restricted substance and prohibited for those uses.

The Ministry of Environment of South Korea plans to adopt a public - participation approach in policy - making. It will solicit opinions from relevant enterprises and jointly participate in the discussion to ensure the fairness and impartiality of the policy - making process.

The relevant substances and their restricted uses are as follows

The hazard information of lead compounds and benzene is as follows

Benzene is a volatile and carcinogenic chemical substance present in coatings, which may pose a threat to the environment and human health.

The Ministry of Environment of South Korea plans to restrict benzene contained in coatings to improve the safety and health of the living environment.

Research shows that lead and its compounds have potential impacts on the nervous system, digestive system, and blood system, especially more severely on children. Therefore, strict restriction policies on the use of lead and its compounds have been adopted worldwide.

Lead compounds are still widely used in coating production, mainly because some lead - containing compounds have the functions of drying and catalyzing, which improve the performance of coatings. Therefore, the substitution of lead - containing coatings needs to be further promoted.