Under Minn. Stat. 2010 116.9403, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), in consultation with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), may designate a Chemical of High Concern as a Priority Chemical if the chemical:

has been identified as a high-production volume chemical by the United States Environmental Protection Agency; and
meets any of the following criteria:
1. the chemical has been found through biomonitoring to be present in human blood, including umbilical cord blood, breast milk, urine, or other bodily tissues or fluids;
2. the chemical has been found through sampling and analysis to be present in household dust, indoor air, drinking water, or elsewhere in the home environment; or
3. the chemical has been found through monitoring to be present in fish, wildlife, or the natural environment.

The list of Priority Chemicals must be published by February 1, 2011 in the State Register and on the MDH website. Per the statute, MDH shall update the list whenever a new priority chemical is designated.

There are also a number of eligibility exclusions that MDH must follow when designating a priority chemical (see Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, 2010 Minnesota Statutes, 116.9405).

Priority chemicals list

The following chemicals have been named Priority Chemicals in Minnesota as of January 31, 2011. Summary information for each chemical can be viewed by clicking on the chemical name. Further supporting information, including Frequently Asked Questions, is below the list.

Name and Chemical Abstract Service (CAS) Registry Number

Bisphenol A (BPA) 80-05-7 (PDF)

Cadmium 7440-43-9 (PDF)

Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) 1163-19-5 (PDF)

Formaldehyde 50-00-0 (PDF)

Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) 3194-55-6 (PDF)

Lead 7439-92-1 (PDF)

Phthalates (PDF)
Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) 85-68-7
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) 84-74-2
Di (2-ethyhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) 117-81-7

Summary: Priority Chemicals table (PDF)