Using camera film is a dying art and the EPA in the United States just gave it an extra push down in the dustbin of history.
A recent ban on Fujifilm’s Velvia 100 both reminded us all that photographers still use film and that it can be a pretty toxic thing to handle – so toxic, in fact, that it needs to be banned.
And it is all because of a component chemical, phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1), the EPA deemed too toxic for consumer products, PetaPixel reports. This chemical is reportedly found in everything from rubber to resins for electronics and thermoplastics.
The ban doesn’t come into effect until September 5, 2021 but Fuji wants to get on it now.
Fuji wrote in response to the ban:
“On March 8, 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule regarding the chemical phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)) (CASRN 68937-41-7) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which prohibited the processing and distribution in commerce, including sales, of the chemical and products containing the chemical. EPA also issued an enforcement policy on the same day stating that it will not enforce the ban on processing and distribution until September 5, 2021.
A minuscule amount (less than 0.0003%) of PIP (3:1) is present within the layers of FUJICHROME Velvia 100 Professional films. Fujifilm believes that the trace amount of PIP (3:1) in the FUJICHROME Velvia 100 Professional films pose no risk to the environment.
As a global leader in imaging, Fujifilm is committed to acting sustainably, and complying with all country regulations. As such, Fujifilm will discontinue FUJICHROME Velvia 100 Professional film in the U.S. effective immediately (July 6, 2021).”
Do you use Fuji’s Velvia 100? What do you think of the EPA’s ban on it? Let us know your thoughts on the EPA banning Velvia 100 in the comments section below.
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3 Comments
WTF!? What complete and utter bollocks.
Yup – I loved Velvia.
Film photography a dying art? That’s a strange statement considering but an alarm for tography has made a comeback in the last couple of years.