A seemingly harmless industrial chemical is giving the Polyurethane Manufacturers Association and the American Chemical Council a big headache.
The intermediate substance, 1,4 butanediol, or BDO, drew little attention in the United States until recently. About 661 million pounds of it is used annually in chemical derivatives, polyurethanes and engineering plastics, and as a solvent on coatings and inks.
However, when ingested it is metabolized in the body as gamma hydroxybutyrate, or GBL, more commonly know as the ``date-rape drug'' according to Patricia Cruse, manager of product stewardship of BASF Corp. and a member of the chemical council's GBL/BDO Panel. And that has gotten BDO in trouble with the law and lawmakers.
Some states have considered prohibiting or limiting use of the material, which would affect the urethane and plastics industries dramatically, she told PMA members at their recent spring conference in Broomfield, Colo.
In fact, she noted after the meeting, Florida already had banned BDO, making it illegal to use in any form, until the American Chemical Council met with lawmakers to work out a compromise.
Other states also are regulating the substance, but the laws and requirements vary. The council's panel is continuing to work with federal and state legislators along with regulatory agencies to ensure proper use of the product, she said.
PMA has formed a 1,4 butanediol subcommittee to draft a user guideline, an association spokeswoman said, which should help its members in the future.
Cruse said BDO is a versatile intermediate for the chemical industry and reacts with diisocyanates to help produce polyurethanes. ``It's a true industrial chemical and a great solvent,'' she said. ``It was first abused for some reason by body builders - apparently as a body-building enhancement. But it doesn't do that. It knocks you out. It was marketed in muscle-building publications as a sleep aid.''
Then it apparently became a date-rape drug in its GBL form. Now, anyone apprehended trying to sell it illegally faces imprisonment and fines, she said. Because of that, the supplier or users must register with states.
``The states are setting up different requirements that require asking weird questions of customers,'' she said.
