Ban on most uses of dichloromethane finalised in US
By 
Rebecca Trager2024-05-07T14:17:00
New rule phases out consumer use of the chemical within a year, and prohibits most industrial and commercial uses within two years
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signed off on a rule banning most uses of dichloromethane, also known as methylene chloride.
The chemical is commonly used as a paint stripper and has been linked to dozens of deaths, as well as cancers and other serious health issues. The action, announced on 30 April under the Toxic Substances Control Act (Tsca) that governs US chemical policy, followed the agency’s proposal about a year ago.
Dichloromethane is used by the public for degreasing and as a paint stripper, and commercially in products like adhesives and sealants. Industrially, the substance is used to make other chemicals like more environmentally-friendly refrigerants. At least 88 people have died from acute dichloromethane exposure in the US since 1980, and most of those fatalities were members of the public refinishing bathtubs or stripping paint, according to the EPA. Often, these individuals are fully trained and wearing personal protective equipment, the agency said.