One industry analysis found that concentrations of the compounds exceeded new standards set by the EPA last year in five of 1,255 sampled waterways.
The industry group describes nonylphenol as a weak estrogen that is far less potent than natural estrogens in human sewage. But nonylphenol ethoxylates -- those used in most cleaning products -- are not estrogenic, said Barbara Losey, deputy director of the industry's research council.
Nonylphenol compounds also are used in the manufacture of paper, textiles, paints, lube oils, tires and other products. In addition to the ban for detergents, the petition is seeking restrictions on other uses and labels on all products that contain them.
Although use of the chemicals is unrestricted in the United States, some large U.S. companies have voluntarily stopped using them, including Procter & Gamble and Unilever. Wal-Mart last year named nonylphenol ethoxylates as one of three chemicals that it had asked its suppliers to phase out.
Instead of regulations, the EPA is developing a voluntary "Safer Detergents" program to reward companies that switch to less-toxic cleaning agents such as alcohol ethoxylates, which are available at comparable cost.
The European Union is in the process of banning many uses and Canada has set stringent standards.
But legal experts say that the EPA has limited authority to ban chemicals already in use when the toxics law was enacted in 1976.
Under that law, the agency must prove a chemical poses an "unreasonable risk" to human health or the environment, and then compare costs and benefits of potential restrictions and choose "the least burdensome" one.
The last industrial chemical the EPA banned was asbestos in 1989.
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marla.cone@latimes.com
