The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed banning the cancer-causing chemical trichloroethylene, which can be found in consumer products including automobile brake cleaners, dry cleaning solvents, stain removers, aerosol degreasers, cleaning wipes, adhesives and sealants, adhesive for lace wigs and hair extensions, lubricants, crafts spray coating and a host of other products.
The move would end a nearly four-decade battle to ban the chemical known as TCE, which can cause sudden death or kidney cancer if a person is exposed to high levels of it, and other neurological harm even at lower exposure over a long period.
EPA’s recent risk-evaluation studies found that as much as 250 million pounds of TCE are still produced in the United States annually. One of the first places the chemical raised concern was in Massachusetts, where it was linked to contaminated drinking water in the city of Woburn. Two locations there were ultimately designated as massive Superfund sites, places known to be polluted with hazardous materials. Monday’s news conference was held at one of them, a location which now serves as a transportation center.
“For far too long, TCE has left a toxic legacy in communities across America,” said Michal Freedhoff, the EPA’s assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Today, EPA is taking a major step to protect people from exposure to this cancer-causing chemical.”
Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey, who has led the effort to ban TCE, welcomed the move.
“With this rule, we can see a future where we will no longer be manufacturing, processing and distributing a chemical known to be deadly,” Markey said. “We will no longer be exposing American families, communities and workers to a toxic chemical legacy that leaves questions, cancer and catastrophe in its wake.”
The American Chemistry Council said in a statement that TCE has several important uses in packaging and in formulating products. The proposed rule “is inconsistent with the underlying science,” the council said, calling on the EPA to avoid unnecessarily restricting valuable industrial uses for the chemical.
“EPA must base its risk management proposals on best available science, including accurate assessments of exposure,” the industry group said. “Where uses of chemistries have decreased over time, this must be reflected in EPA’s underlying risk assessment, because decreased use reduces potential exposure.”
Meanwhile, environmental groups praised the proposed rule, which would take effect in a year.
“EPA followed the science, listened to impacted communities, and proposed one of the strongest chemical regulations in recent history,” said Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz, Earthjustice senior attorney, in a statement. “Some chemicals are simply too harmful to remain on the market.”
The proposed ban stems from a major expansion of EPA’s regulatory powers under a landmark 2016 law that overhauled rules governing tens of thousands of toxic chemicals in everyday products, from household cleaners to clothing and furniture.