"EPA Bans Most Uses Of Toxic Paint Stripper Tied To Dozens Of Deaths"

"Long-term exposure to methylene chloride — a solvent used to strip paint — is linked to several types of cancer".

"The Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday a ban on most uses of methylene chloride, a toxic solvent used in paint stripping that has been linked to at least 88 accidental deaths since 1980.

The final rule bolsters the Biden administration’s broader crackdown on an array of chemicals known to cause serious health effects, despite their helpful applications in everyday life. It will restrict all consumer uses of methylene chloride and most industrial and commercial uses, with some exemptions for the military and makers of climate-friendly coolants and electric-vehicle components.

Methylene chloride is often used to refinish bathtubs and furniture, and to make pharmaceuticals and refrigerants. Short-term exposure can cause dizziness, headaches and damage to the central nervous system. Long-term exposure is linked to several types of cancer, including those of the brain, breast, liver and lung."

Maxine Joselow reports for the Washington Post April 30, 2024.