June 19, 2020 — the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the final risk evaluation for methylene chloride, the first risk evaluation to be completed under the Lautenberg Act amendments to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

The final risk evaluation for methylene chloride shows that there are unreasonable risks to workers, occupational non-users, consumers, and bystanders under 47 out of 53 conditions of use. EPA did not find an unreasonable risk to the environment.

The next step in the process, EPA will now begin the process of developing ways to address the unreasonable risks identified including regulations to prohibit or limit the manufacture, processing, distribution in the marketplace, use, or disposal of this chemical substance, as applicable and has up to one year to propose and take public comments on any risk management actions.

As with any chemical product, EPA strongly recommends that users continue to carefully follow all instructions on the product’s label/safety data sheet. In March 2019, EPA banned sales of methylene chloride in paint and coating removers for consumer use. Consumers should not use paint and coating removers containing methylene chloride.

Reference: https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-06/documents/1_mecl_risk_evaluation_final.pdf