Lowe’s announced Tuesday it will begin phasing out paint removal products that contain methylene chloride, a toxic chemical that has been linked to three deaths in the past 13 months.
It will also begin removing products containing N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP).
“We care deeply about the health and safety of our customers, and great progress is being made in the development of safer and more effective alternatives,” Lowe’s Chief Customer Officer Mike McDermott said in a statement. “As a home improvement leader, we recognize the need for viable paint removal products and remain committed to working closely with suppliers to further innovate in this category.”
The company’s announcement comes after the EPA announced it would revisit a 2017 proposal to ban methylene chloride from commercial paint stripping uses. Advocates within the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families organization also held demonstrations at Lowe’s locations in the beginning of May, urging the company to begin phasing out products containing the chemical following recent deaths linked to the chemical. Family members of Drew Wayne, 31, who died after inhaling methylene chloride fumes while using a paint stripper sold by Lowe’s, also launched a Change.org petition to have the products removed from stores. As of Tuesday it had received over 65,840 signatures.
Paint removal products containing methylene chloride include Goof Off and Jasco Premium Paint and Epoxy Remover. Products containing NMP include Goof Off graffiti remover and CitriStrip Safer Paint and Varnish Stripping Gel.
