EPA to Take Action on Deadly Chemical Used in Paint Strippers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it will take action on enforcing stricter regulations of methylene chloride, a chemical used in paint strippers that has been linked to several recent deaths.

The EPA proposed in January 2017 that the chemical be banned from consumer and commercial paint stripping uses, but the proposal had since been tabled.

“EPA intends to finalize the methylene chloride rulemaking,” the agency said in a press release. “EPA is not re-evaluating the paint stripping uses of methylene chloride and is relying on its previous risk assessments.”

The announcement comes after advocates within Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families held a “Week of Action” last week, urging Lowe’s to stop selling products containing the controversial chemical through demonstrations in store locations around the country, while also urging the EPA to revisit the proposed ban of the chemical.

The families of several young men who recently died while using paint strippers containing methylene chloride also met with the EPA last week to discuss its regulation.