The Environmental Protection Agency has imposed a ban on trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (Perc), both solvents associated with serious health risks, including cancer.
EPA Bans Toxic Chemicals Linked to Cancer in Dry Cleaning
EPA Bans Toxic Chemicals Linked to Cancer in Dry Cleaning
New regulations target hazardous solvents, despite industry pushback.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on December 9, 2024, significant restrictions on two solvents commonly used in the dry-cleaning industry and other everyday products due to their association with severe health risks, including various cancers. The decision comes after years of advocacy from health and environmental groups, particularly in light of anticipated deregulation under the incoming Trump administration.
Trichloroethylene, or TCE, has long been linked to serious health issues, including liver and kidney cancers, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and damage to both the nervous and immune systems. Its environmental impact has been well-documented, with the chemical frequently detected in drinking water across the country. The toxicity of TCE is emblematic of the issues documented in the 1995 legal drama "A Civil Action," which spotlighted the struggles of communities affected by chemical contamination.
Under the new rule, the EPA has completely banned the consumer use of TCE, leveraging the authority provided by the更新 (revamped) Toxic Substances Control Act of 2016. Meanwhile, perchloroethylene (known as Perc) has also been banned in consumer products, despite being considered less hazardous than TCE. Perc, predominantly utilized for dry-cleaning and automotive applications, is still recognized as a carcinogen associated with liver, kidney, brain, and testicular cancers.
While the EPA's new regulations permit some industrial uses of Perc—particularly in aviation and defense sectors—they stipulate that stringent safety protocols must be in place to protect workers in those environments. Michal Freedhoff, the assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, emphasized the necessity of this regulatory step, declaring it "unacceptable" to permit the ongoing use of cancer-causing substances when safer alternatives are available.
As the agency navigates these stringent regulations, opposition from the dry-cleaning industry remains strong, advocating that the bans could significantly impact operations. However, the ongoing awareness of public health risks appears to keep regulatory measures at the forefront of environmental management discussions across the nation.
Trichloroethylene, or TCE, has long been linked to serious health issues, including liver and kidney cancers, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and damage to both the nervous and immune systems. Its environmental impact has been well-documented, with the chemical frequently detected in drinking water across the country. The toxicity of TCE is emblematic of the issues documented in the 1995 legal drama "A Civil Action," which spotlighted the struggles of communities affected by chemical contamination.
Under the new rule, the EPA has completely banned the consumer use of TCE, leveraging the authority provided by the更新 (revamped) Toxic Substances Control Act of 2016. Meanwhile, perchloroethylene (known as Perc) has also been banned in consumer products, despite being considered less hazardous than TCE. Perc, predominantly utilized for dry-cleaning and automotive applications, is still recognized as a carcinogen associated with liver, kidney, brain, and testicular cancers.
While the EPA's new regulations permit some industrial uses of Perc—particularly in aviation and defense sectors—they stipulate that stringent safety protocols must be in place to protect workers in those environments. Michal Freedhoff, the assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, emphasized the necessity of this regulatory step, declaring it "unacceptable" to permit the ongoing use of cancer-causing substances when safer alternatives are available.
As the agency navigates these stringent regulations, opposition from the dry-cleaning industry remains strong, advocating that the bans could significantly impact operations. However, the ongoing awareness of public health risks appears to keep regulatory measures at the forefront of environmental management discussions across the nation.
