The White House’s Office of Management and Budget on Thursday completed its review of EPA’s rule restricting methylene chloride, a deadly chemical known for its widespread use as a paint stripper.
The proposed rule, announced last April, would ban all consumer uses but still allow certain “critical” uses in the military and industrial processing, with worker protections in place.
Methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane, is a colorless liquid that emits a toxic vapor that has killed at least 80 people since 1980. Long-term health effects include damage to the nervous, immune and reproductive systems.
The chemical industry has argued that EPA is overstating the risks of methylene chloride and that adequate protections have since mitigated those health risks.
