Kevin Hartley was refinishing a bathtub for the small business he worked for, when he was overcome by toxic fumes and lost his life.
He was 21 years old.
The cause of his death was acute exposure to methylene chloride — a toxic chemical used in paint strippers that is highly lethal. But despite proposing to do so years ago, EPA hasn’t finalized a commercial ban on methylene chloride in paint strippers. Instead, EPA is “re-evaluating” the risks.
And, in another concerning step, EPA’s newly-released draft risk evaluation for methylene chloride cuts multiple corners that lead the agency to badly underestimate the danger this chemical poses. This approach is not only flat-out illegal, it will also leave Americans at risk.
Take action today, and demand EPA follow the law and not ignore the many ways methylene chloride puts the American public in jeopardy.
Here are the details: Not only is methylene chloride acutely lethal, but it can cause cancer. The chemical is also tied to harmful effects on the liver, immune system, nervous system, and reproductive system. EPA identified the risks it poses
more than five years ago, but the Trump Administration delayed action and then weakened a ban on the chemical in paint strippers — denying protection to workers like Kevin.
Now, in its redo of a risk assessment of the chemical, Trump’s EPA has dramatically underestimated the risk in the following ways:
- Ignoring all exposures and risks to the general public, which means ignoring over 4 million pounds of methylene chloride annually released into our air, water, and onto our land;
- Allowing workers to be exposed to levels as much as 100 times higher than is warranted under our chemical safety law; and
- Making incorrect assumptions about safety practices around using methylene chloride in the workplace.
Based on this assessment, the agency will not properly regulate the chemical — meaning the public and workers will be left greatly under-protected.
Take action today and demand EPA follow the law and protect American lives from methylene chloride exposure.
Thank you for standing with us,
Heather Shelby
Action Network Manager
