The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed banning most uses of methylene chloride, a chemical they say is dangerous to health and even fatal, to protect public health.
The proposal would ban the use of dichloromethane in all consumer situations and for most industrial and commercial purposes. Dichloromethane is used in aerosol degreasers, paint and coating brush cleaners, commercial adhesives and sealants, and the production of other chemicals in industrial settings.
The ban was introduced as part of the Toxic Substances Control Act, which gave the EPA the ability to require reporting, record keeping, and testing, among other restrictions. In 2019, the EPA banned consumer use of dichloromethane by removing it from paint strippers.
At least 85 people have died from exposure to this chemical since 1980, according to the EPA. The Environmental Protection Agency said the cases mostly involved workers doing home improvement contract work. The agency said there are “many more” people who have suffered severe and long-term health effects after exposure to methylene chloride. The EPA has also identified adverse health effects, including neurotoxicity, liver effects, and cancer through inhalation and skin contact.
The agency determined that dichloromethane 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 using the chemical, and persons exposed to the chemical.
“The science behind methylene chloride is clear, and exposure can cause serious health consequences and even death, which is a reality for far too many families who have lost loved ones to acute poisoning,” said EPA administrator Michael S. Regan. conference that announced it. “That’s why the EPA is taking action by proposing to protect the health of workers by introducing stricter workplace controls that would ban most uses of this chemical and reduce exposure in all other situations.”
The EPA said the goal of the proposed ban is to protect people from the risk and only allow methylene chloride to be used under highly controlled workplace conditions, which would minimize exposure. Production, processing and distribution of dichloromethane will cease within the next 15 months. Where the proposal banned the chemical, an EPA analysis found that alternative products with “similar cost and effectiveness … are generally available.”
“This historic proposed ban demonstrates the significant progress we have made in implementing new chemical safety safeguards and taking long overdue measures to better protect public health,” Reagan said.
Kerry Breen is a news editor and reporter for CBS News. Her reporting focuses on current events, breaking news and substance abuse.