The Biden-Harris administration has banned two cancer-causing chemicals, Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Perchloroethylene (PCE), in a “major milestone” for chemical safety.
The rules ban all uses of TCE, along with consumer and many commercial uses of PCE, while requiring stringent worker protections for any remaining uses.
The ban is aligned to President Joe Biden‘s Cancer Moonshot initiative, a U.S. government program, which is aimed at reducing cancer deaths.
Originally launched in 2016, during his time as Vice President, the program followed the death of Biden’s son, Beau Biden, from brain cancer in 2015. The Cancer Moonshot initiative, which was relaunched in 2022 during Biden’s presidency had the goal of cutting cancer death by 50 percent over the next 25 years, and to improve cancer prevention, detection and treatment.
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The ban has been finalized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the bipartisan 2016 Toxic Substances Control Act.
“It’s simply unacceptable to continue to allow cancer-causing chemicals to be used for things like glue, dry cleaning or stain removers when safer alternatives exist,” the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michael Freedhoff said in a press release announcing the ban.
“These rules are grounded in the best-available science that demonstrates the harmful impacts of PCE and TCE. EPA continues to deliver on actions that protect people, including workers and children, under the nation’s premier bipartisan chemical safety law.”
Newsweek has reached out to the EPA outside of normal working hours via email for comment.
What is Trichloroethylene?
TCE is a toxic chemical which is known to cause liver cancer, kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as well as damage to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, immune system, reproductive organs and fetal heart defects.
The chemical will be phased out entirely, with most uses banned within a year, though there will be some critical industrial uses which will remain temporarily under strict safety protocols.
What is Trichloroethylene used for?
TCE is used as a solvent in cleaning products. It can be used in products like degreasers, brake cleaners, sealants, lubricants, adhesives, paints, coatings and arts and crafts spray coatings.
What is Perchloroethylene?
PCE is known to cause multiple kinds of cancer, including liver, kidney, brain and testicular. It also causes damage to the kidney, liver and immune system.
What is Perchloroethylene used for?
The chemical is a solvent used in break cleaners, adhesives, dry cleaning and in industrial settings.
The EPA is finalizing a decade-long phaseout plan for the use of PCE in dry cleaning. Limited uses of PCE will continue in some critical industries under enhanced safety measures.
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