A widely used chemical solvent used to make plastics is harming the health of workers, but it’s not a risk to the public or the environment, EPA has determined.
EPA on Friday finalized its risk evaluation for 1,2-dichloroethane, a chemical used to make vinyl products such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes. The agency found the solvent poses an “unreasonable risk,” a designation that triggers the rulemaking process.
Regulations won’t apply to commercial or consumer uses in plastic and rubber products, because EPA’s evaluation found those uses as unlikely factors driving its unreasonable risk determination.
The agency upped its cancer designation from “probable” to “likely human carcinogen,” according to the risk evaluation, which affirmed research that 1,2-dichloroethane can contribute to tumor growth. Breathing in or ingesting the chemical can also lead to a decrease in sperm count, kidney disease and damage to the nasal tract.
