Dr.Bob
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Dichloromethane now banned from US paint strippers
from https://news.yahoo.com/u-bans-most-uses-paint-185621034.html
"The Environmental Protection Agency is banning most uses of a toxic chemical often used to refinish furniture and bathtubs that has been linked to
dozens of deaths since 1980.
The agency announced a rule Tuesday that will limit all consumer uses of methylene chloride, as well as most industrial and commercial uses. Exempted
uses include those "highly industrialized and important to national security and the economy," such as climate-friendly coolants and parts for
electric vehicles, according to the EPA.
The EPA is restricting use of methylene chloride roughly six years after a CBS News investigation prompted three major retailers — Home Depot,
Lowe's and Sherwin-Williams — to agree to pull products with the chemical off their shelves by the end of 2018.
Methylene chloride is known to cause a range of cancers, as well as neurotoxicity and liver damage, while direct exposure can lead to death, according
to the EPA. At least 88 people have died from acute exposure to methylene chloride since 1980, most of them who were refinishing bathtubs or stripping
paint, the agency said. The fatalities included trained workers who were equipped with personal protection equipment.
"Exposure to methylene chloride has devastated families across this country for too long, including some who saw loved ones go to work and never come
home," EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement. "EPA's final action brings an end to unsafe methylene chloride practices and implements
the strongest worker protections possible for the few remaining industrial uses, ensuring no one in this country is put in harm's way by this
dangerous chemical."
The sweeping restrictions come a year after the EPA proposed the ban, citing the known and potentially deadly health risks of methylene chloride,
which is also used to make pharmaceuticals and refrigerants. It also follows the EPA's move earlier this month to limit so-called "forever chemicals"
in tap water."
https://news.yahoo.com/u-bans-most-uses-paint-185621034.html
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Sir_Gawain
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What about other products? I’ve never seen dichloromethane paint stripper in the last six years, but I did just discover that anti-spatter welding
spray is mostly DCM. It’s pretty cheap and the only source I have for DCM short of buying liters from chemical companies.
“Alchemy is trying to turn things yellow; chemistry is trying to avoid things turning yellow.” -Tom deP.
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charley1957
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As of this morning, May 1, you can still get it from Amazon, at least two sellers. Also Sciencecompany.com. Better get it before day’s end!
[Edited on May05-1-2024 by charley1957]
You can’t claim you drank all day if you didn’t start early in the morning.
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Dr.Bob
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If anyone is ever in NC, I might know a guy who can get some for you...
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Texium
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I thought it was already banned several years ago
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Sir_Gawain
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Not here in the US. About six years ago though it was removed from most products. As Dr. Bob stated, it was a voluntary removal from stores prompted
by an investigation into the numerous deaths that had resulted from it.
“Alchemy is trying to turn things yellow; chemistry is trying to avoid things turning yellow.” -Tom deP.
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Dr.Bob
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It will still be allowed for some professional things and products and a few niche areas, but hard to buy OTC.
If if wasn't so hard to ship I would be happy to sell it, but its a nightmare to ship now.
I remember using it almost 40 years ago commonly for paint stripping, my chemist friend Ed used to sell it pure as well as a mixture specially
designed for stripping paint, mixed with methanol, thickeners, and a few other solvents. Using a mix of mineral spirits (or toluene or most any
hydrocarbon) and DCM works well as the DCM softens the paint, and then evaporates quickly, but the other solvents don't evaporate as fast, so the
paint does not dry back out as you work.
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