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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed banning the use of methylene chloride in all consumer and most industrial and commercial applications. The new proposal comes after the agency completed a risk assessment in November 2022 that found exposure to solvents can cause adverse health effects such as liver disease and cancer.
Methylene chloride is found in a variety of products, including adhesives, paint strippers, and degreasers. It is also widely used as a raw material for the production of other chemicals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 900,000 workers and 15 million consumers are regularly exposed to methylene chloride.
The compound is the second to be evaluated under the revised Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which requires the Environmental Protection Agency to review the safety of new and existing commercial chemicals. The agency’s goal is to phase out the production, processing and distribution of methylene chloride within 15 months.
Some uses of methylene chloride are exempt from this ban, including its use as a chemical agent. For example, it will continue to be used in the production of hydrofluorocarbon-32 refrigerant, which was developed as an alternative to alternatives with higher global warming potential and/or ozone depletion.
“We believe that methylene chloride remains safe for military and federal use,” Michal Friedhoff, associate administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said at a press conference before the announcement. “EPA will require action to protect worker safety.”
Some environmental groups welcomed the new proposal. However, they also expressed concern about exceptions to the rule that would allow the continued use of methylene chloride for at least the next decade.
Maria Doa, senior director of chemical policy at the Environmental Defense Fund, said such long-term use will continue to pose risks to communities living near exempt sites. Doa said the Environmental Protection Agency should shorten the duration of the exemption or impose additional restrictions on methylene chloride emissions from these plants.
Meanwhile, the American Chemistry Council, a trade group representing chemical manufacturers, said the proposed rules could impact the supply chain. The group said in a statement that the rapid reduction in methylene chloride production would result in a reduction of more than half. The group said the cuts could have a “domino effect” on other industries such as pharmaceuticals, especially if “manufacturers decide to stop production entirely.”
Methylene chloride is the second of 10 chemicals the Environmental Protection Agency plans to evaluate for possible risks to human health and the environment. Firstly, it is asbestos. Freedhoff said rules for a third substance, perchlorethylene, could be similar to new rules for methylene chloride, including a ban and stricter worker protections.