A very dangerous chemical used to restore damaged furniture and strip paint has been associated with dozens of fatalities since 1980, prompting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to restrict its use among consumers.
Methylene Chloride Banned in US Consumer Products
On Tuesday, April 30, the government unveiled a regulation that would restrict methylene chloride's use in all consumer goods and the majority of commercial and industrial settings.
The EPA lists climate-friendly coolants and electric car components as examples of exempted applications, along with other highly industrialized uses that are vital to national security and the economy.
According to Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, the regulation would permit certain vital applications in industrial processes and the military while also ensuring worker safeguards.
For instance, unlike other chemicals that contribute to climate change via the production of greenhouse gases, methylene chloride will still be permitted to be used as a refrigerant. Its use in electric car batteries and essential military operations is also authorized.
EPA Cites Chemical's Severe Health Risks as Basis for Stringent Rules
CBS News reports that EPA first suggested the ban a year ago. The agency cited the well-documented and grave health dangers associated with methylene chloride as the rationale for the new, extensive regulations.
Several types of cancer, neurotoxicity, liver damage, and even death may result from direct exposure to methylene chloride, according to the EPA.
The majority of the 88 fatalities caused by acute exposure to the chemical since 1980 have occurred in the context of bathtub refinishing or paint stripping. Employees with proper training and safety gear were among those who lost their lives.
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