The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has introduced much stricter regulation of methylene chloride, a chemical commonly used as a solvent and paint stripper. The new regulation would prohibit its use for all consumer use, and heavily restrict its use in industrial and commercial settings. This is due to the serious health risks associated with the chemical, which the EPA has found “presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health under its conditions of use.”
What is Methylene Chloride?
Methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane, is typically seen as a colorless liquid with a strong smell often compared to chloroform. This volatile chemical is most widely known for its use as a paint stripper, but it is also used for a number of other purposes, including metal cleaning, degreasing, and the manufacture of certain pharmaceuticals. However, it will soon be unavailable for many of these uses, due to the significant risks that exposure can pose to people’s health.
Why is it Being So Heavily Regulated?
Recent studies into the health risks posed by methylene chloride due to the risks associated with its use. While it was previously regulated prior to this point, with it being prohibited for certain purposes, this new regulation seeks to phase it out entirely for consumer use. Companies that seek to use the chemical will need to take strict measures to ensure employees and consumers are not exposed, similarly to other highly toxic chemicals.
What Are the Risks of Methylene Chloride Exposure?
People who are exposed to methylene chloride have reported a number of serious symptoms, including headaches, nausea, loss of coordination, drowsiness, and unconsciousness. Higher levels of toxicity have also been shown to cause harm to the brain and nervous system, liver damage, and even death. Exposure to methylene chloride has also been associated with several types of cancer, including liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, and certain types of blood cancer.
What Should You Do?
If you have paint stripper or other chemicals with methylene chloride in them in your home, you should cease using them and dispose of them safely, if possible. If you have been exposed to methylene chloride in an industrial or commercial setting and experience any of the symptoms noted above, you should seek immediate medical attention. You should also speak to a lawyer with experience handling environmental contamination cases, who can help you get justice for any harm you have suffered.
Williams Cedar is a law firm dedicated to helping clients with personal injury, environmental law, and civil rights cases. We specialize in assisting clients who have been injured due to exposure to environmental toxins, including veterans and their loved ones. If you need legal assistance due to toxic exposure or other related matters, please give us a call at our New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices at (215) 557-0099, or visit our contact page.