EPA imposes strictest limits on usage of hazardous chemical in paint remover.
Ardent advocates have long been pushing for stringent regulations on the use of this toxic chemical. This year, the Biden administration has outlawed or placed restrictions on several hazardous substances.
Methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane, is a potent industrial solvent commonly found in commercial paint strippers. It's also employed in various other applications, such as metal degreasers, aerosols, adhesives, paint and coating products, and the manufacturing of certain pharmaceuticals, according to the EPA.
Direct exposure to this chemical is lethal, as demonstrated by the fact that simply ingesting a spoonful of it could be fatal. Inhaling the fumes can lead to dizziness and numb limbs, and at higher concentrations, it can halt the part of the brain responsible for breathing, resulting in unconsciousness or even sudden death.
Exposure to the substance over an extended period can result in at least six types of cancer, along with damage to the nervous system, heart, and other organs like the liver, kidneys, and skin.
During the Obama administration, the EPA proposed prohibiting most retail and occupational uses of methylene chloride in paint stripping. In 2019, the Trump administration merely banned consumer sales of paint strippers containing the chemical, enabling its continued use in various other consumer products and in all industrial and commercial applications.
The 2019 limitations were deemed necessary due to "acute fatalities" following exposure to the chemical. However, most deaths related to the substance occurred at the workplace, where the Trump administration failed to impose any restrictions. An analysis between 1980 and 2018 identified at least 85 fatalities linked directly to methylene chloride, with the majority occurring at the job site.
Approximately 260 million pounds of methylene chloride are still used annually in the United States, as per the EPA. Experts argue that substitutes are readily available in many cases.
The announced restrictions surpass both the Obama and Trump administrations' proposals. The Obama administration assessed the risks associated with over 50 different applications of the chemical, but only took action for the consumer market. These recently finalized rules, however, ban methylene chloride from paint strippers in the workplace, end consumer use within a year, and forbid most industrial and commercial uses in less than two years.
Methylene chloride will still be necessary for producing refrigerants, electric vehicle batteries, and for the "critical military and other federal uses" cited by the EPA. In addition to these exceptions, the rule introduces a unique worker chemical protection program described as "a first of its kind."
Michal Ilana Freedhoff, the assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention at the EPA, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the actions. "It's a much stronger action because it applies to the full spectrum of how methylene chloride is made and used for," she mentioned during a press conference.
Freedhoff explained that when the chemical is allowed, companies will need to evaluate its usage, promote finding alternatives, implement engineering controls to limit usage, and provide monitoring, training, and personal protective equipment for those exposed to it.
The announcement of worker protections in the regulation commended union leaders. "We commend the EPA for its final rule to protect all workers from unreasonable risk. The labor movement eagerly anticipates collaborating with the EPA on the rule's implementation," said Dave McCall, the international president of the United Steelworkers.
Sarah Vogel, senior vice president for Healthy Communities at the Environmental Defense Fund, voiced satisfaction with the broader restrictions but reiterated that more work needs to be done. "Today's announcement of a ban on many occupational uses of methylene chloride-based paint strippers, in addition to all consumer uses, is long overdue," Vogel said during the EPA news event.
Wendy Hartley, a staunch advocate for the methylene chloride ban since her son's tragic death in 2017, expressed joy at the finalized regulations. "For decades, science has been telling us about the dangers of methylene chloride. When I spoke with Assistant Administrator Freedhoff, I was in tears because this ban was finally happening," Hartley shared.
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In the 19th century, doctors experimented with using methylene chloride as an anesthetic, but it wasn't until after World War II that manufacturers and retailers began widely using it. However, people were aware of its dangers from the start. Doctors eventually stopped using methylene chloride because it was tricky to get the correct dosage, leading to fatal consequences if they got it wrong. In the United States, manufacturers don't need to prove their products are safe before selling them. Instead, they must show that the product causes harm.
"It can be difficult for regulations to keep up with the latest research in science," commented Dr. Nicole Deziel, a researcher at Yale Cancer Center and an associate professor in epidemiology and environmental health sciences at the Yale School of Public Health. The Biden administration recently added more regulations for chemicals, including methylene chloride, asbestos, and PFAS in drinking water. However, many companies had already started phasing out the use of these dangerous chemicals.
"Some of these regulations are a bit late," Deziel said.
Under the new EPA rule, any uses of methylene chloride that are regulated by other agencies, such as the use of the chemical in the food industry, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides, are not within the EPA's jurisdiction. One such use is the creation of decaffeinated coffee and tea, which is not affected by the EPA's new rule. Further restrictions on these uses will require intervention from other regulatory bodies, like the FDA, which is responsible for regulating food and drugs.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
