WASHINGTON, US: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule to prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution of methylene chloride in all paint removers or paint stripper for consumer use.
EPA has taken this action because of the acute fatalities that have resulted from exposure to the chemical.
In this final rule, EPA found risks to consumers to be unreasonable. Acute (short-term) exposures to methylene chloride fumes can rapidly cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, and death due to nervous system depression. People have died after being incapacitated during paint and coating removal with methylene chloride. A variety of effective, less harmful substitutes are readily available for paint removal.
Paint removal products containing methylene chloride will not be able to be sold at any retail or distribution establishments that have consumer sales, including e-commerce sales. Those prohibitions start 180 days after the effective date of the final rule, which provides time for establishments selling this chemical to consumers to come into compliance with EPA’s ban, the Agency said.
“After analyzing the health impacts and listening to affected families, EPA is taking action to stop the use of this chemical in paint removers intended for consumers. The decision reflects EPA’s commitment to ensure that chemicals in the retail marketplace are safe for the American public,” said Andrew Wheeler, EPA Administrator.
“This rule answers calls from many affected families to effectively remove these products from retail shelves and retail distribution channels, providing protection for the American public,” added Alexandra Dunn, Assistant Administrator for Chemical Safety.
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