{"id":8482,"date":"2019-02-07T12:55:34","date_gmt":"2019-02-07T17:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/health\/?p=8482"},"modified":"2019-03-12T10:41:07","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T15:41:07","slug":"edf-omb-urge-methylene-chloride-paint-stripper-ban-protect-workers-consumers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/health\/2019\/02\/07\/edf-omb-urge-methylene-chloride-paint-stripper-ban-protect-workers-consumers\/","title":{"rendered":"EDF to OMB: Ban on methylene chloride in paint strippers must protect workers in addition to consumers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lindsay McCormick<\/em><\/a>, Project Manager, and Joanna Slaney<\/a><\/em>, Legislative Director<\/p>\n

[pullquote]<\/p>\n

Over 11,000<\/em><\/strong> concerned Americans have sent messages to Members of Congress over the last two weeks to urge EPA and OMB<\/a> to protect workers \u2013 the population at most risk \u2013 from methylene chloride in paint strippers.<\/p>\n

[\/pullquote]Today, EDF met with the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) about the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) draft final rule <\/a>on methylene chloride-based paint strippers. We urged the office to ensure the ban on methylene chloride-based paint and coating removers covers both<\/em> consumer and most commercial uses \u2013 as the agency originally proposed.<\/p>\n

Removing these deadly products from stores, workplaces, and homes is a critical step to protecting public health. Methylene chloride is acutely lethal. Exposure to the chemical has led to over 50 reported worker deaths since the mid-1980s, more than 40 of which are attributed to use of methylene chloride-based paint strippers. Many more deaths have likely gone unreported. The chemical is also associated with a host of other serious health effects, including neurotoxicity, cancer, and liver impairment.<\/p>\n

Despite the facts that workers represent the vast majority of reported deaths and face the highest risks of other health effects, it appears that EPA is poised<\/a> to finalize a rule that excludes a ban on commercial uses entirely \u2013 and will instead merely initiate a lengthy, uncertain process that may lead to certification and training approaches EPA had already considered and rejected as inadequate to protect workers.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

During our meeting with OMB, we reiterated our full support for a ban on consumer uses, which is long overdue and absolutely necessary; but we urged that workers not be left behind. The key points we raised are the following:<\/p>\n