The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to ban most uses of methylene chloride, a chemical it says can cause health risks and even death, to protect public health.
The proposal would ban the use of methylene chloride in all consumer situations and most industrial and commercial uses. Methylene chloride is used in aerosol degreasers, paint and coating brush cleaners, commercial adhesives and sealants, and in the production of other chemicals in industrial settings.
The ban was proposed as part of the Toxic Substances Control Act, which, among other restrictions, gives the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to impose reporting, recordkeeping and testing requirements. In 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency banned one consumer from using methylene chloride by removing it from paint strippers.
At least 85 people have died from exposure to the chemical since 1980, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA said most of the cases involve workers on home improvement contracts. The agency said there are “new” cases of people suffering serious and long-lasting health effects after exposure to methylene chloride. The Environmental Protection Agency has also identified adverse health effects from inhalation and skin contact, including neurotoxicity, liver effects, and cancer.
The agency determined that methylene chloride “poses an unreasonable risk of harm to health under conditions of use” due to risks to workers who are directly or indirectly exposed to the chemical, consumers who use the chemical, and people exposed to the chemical. bring risks.
“The science on methylene chloride is clear, and exposure to methylene chloride can cause serious health effects and even death,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a press release. This is the reality for too many families who have lost loved ones to acute poisoning,” the proposal states. “That’s why the Environmental Protection Agency is taking action by recommending a ban on most uses of this chemical and implementing stricter controls in workplaces to protect worker health and reduce exposure in all other settings.”
The purpose of the proposed ban is to protect people from risks and minimize exposure by allowing the use of methylene chloride only under strictly controlled conditions in workplaces, the Environmental Protection Agency says. The production, processing and distribution of methylene chloride will cease over the next 15 months. In cases where a proposal bans the chemical, the EPA’s analysis found that “alternative products of similar cost and effectiveness…are generally available.”
“This historic proposed ban demonstrates the significant progress we have made in implementing new chemical safety protections and taking overdue steps to better protect public health,” Regan said.
Kerry Breen is a news editor and reporter for CBS News. Her reporting focuses on current events, breaking news and substance abuse.