We would love to hear what you think?
Today, we tackle an important topic that's making headlines: the recent EPA decision to ban methylene chloride in consumer products. Known also as dichloromethane, this chemical is commonly found in products like paint removers, solvents, and metal cleaners—items many of us might have in our garages right now.
In this episode, we will delve into the health risks associated with methylene chloride, which include acute neurological issues and links to several types of cancer such as liver, lung, brain, and blood cancers. The EPA's decision is based on decades of research and reassessment, but what does this ban mean for consumers and industries alike? We'll consider the practical implications, the feasibility of alternatives, and whether these replacements are truly safer or might introduce new risks down the line.
Join me as we investigate the scientific methodologies behind exposure assessments and risk management, the regulatory landscape shaped by EPA decisions, and the nuanced questions we must ask when replacing hazardous chemicals. Don't miss this deep dive into understanding the trade-offs and downstream effects of chemical bans. Your safety and informed decision-making are at the heart of today's discussion. Stay tuned!
Contact Dr. Alex LeBeau at Exposure Consulting for exposure litigation support or Exposure Science Consulting.
[00:00:00] You might not realize it, but we are exposed to dozens of hazards every day. Can any of these hazards negatively impact your health? Definitely this is the Exposure Scientist podcast.
[00:00:13] My name is Alex LeBeau and here we answer your questions and concerns on what you may be exposed to every day. Welcome to the Exposure Scientist podcast. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host or management.
[00:00:30] This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered health advice. It is recommended that you consult the Exposure Scientist to discuss the particulars of your exposure scenario. Hello and welcome to today's episode of the Exposure Scientist podcast.
[00:00:45] Today we are going to be discussing a recent EPA decision for banning a certain chemical using consumer products. Yesterday, which April 30th, EPA issued a final decision of ruling banning a product called Methylene Chloride in consumer products.
[00:01:05] So you may have heard a metheline Chloride, you definitely heard of the consumer products that it is typically used in. I think it's important to understand what the products are, what the potential risks are and whether or not this may be warranted.
[00:01:21] So Methylene Chloride is a chemical that's also known as DiCloro Methane. It is used a lot as intermediate areas in the manufacturer of other products, but it's also used in paints, paint removal, solvents, metal cleaning, chemical processing.
[00:01:39] It's used in a variety of processes that we are typically using every day. I could probably go down to my garage and find something that contains Methylene Chloride. So based on EPA's recent decision, there are no longer going to allow Methylene Chloride to be used in consumer products.
[00:02:01] And I'll give some of the justification, some of the information says since 1980, EPA has found that at least 88 people have died from acute exposure to Methylene Chloride.
[00:02:11] Acute exposures, high concentration of a lot of exposure all at once and typically neurological issues manifest from exposure to Methylene Chloride in that scenario. Another worry or concern for exposure to Methylene Chloride are number of cancer outcomes.
[00:02:29] They have linked the EPA and their assessment is linked liver and lung cancer and brain and blood cancers to Methylene Chloride. So the question is based on this information and the base on the use of this.
[00:02:45] And a lot of this was done following a reassessment of potential exposures to toxic chemicals or what they identify as toxic is, where is the trend on where we're going from use of products. And we're going to have a lot of consumer products that contain these substances.
[00:03:07] And how are we addressing the potential harms that could be caused by them? Now, typically when you go look at one of the chemical consumer products that contain these, you know they have a lot of different warnings on there.
[00:03:20] The potential health effects are certain ways you should be using it. Is this a scenario that is going to be tenable for the future? For example, if we are using Methylene Chloride and it's an effective product and we have to go to something that is less effective.
[00:03:39] What are the ramifications of that going to be? Are there risk assessments that are done realistic risk assessments? I have to dive deeper into their decision maker process to identify how they identified realistic risk versus the potential.
[00:03:55] You know, just for example, you know, what are they speculating this between occupational exposures and consumer exposures? I myself as a consumer. I may use something that may contain a thermo chloride or spray paint or something maybe once your choice a year.
[00:04:11] Is that taken into consideration as far as the exposure variable inputs they're modeling out for the risk that is caused by exposures? Either Methylene Chloride or any other consumer product.
[00:04:23] Additionally, you have to consider and here's where it comes down. Maybe they are replacing this product with something that is not as effective. Maybe it's something that has been sitting on a shelf too bit potentially used but maybe it's not effective as effective.
[00:04:43] Maybe you have to use more of a different product. What I'm trying, what I'm trying to get here, or get at here is that when you make a change and replace one product with something else.
[00:04:58] You have to understand what the risk is and you have to understand there may be elevated risk. So for example, you know, this is the data and again, I'm going on the articles that have released.
[00:05:11] I need to do a deep dive in the Methylene Chloride risk assessment process because as of recent years that it is obviously been identified as a potential hazard. But the complete ban on it, from a use and viability aspect is something that is tangible.
[00:05:33] So the thought is we understand what the risks are for Methylene Chloride. We understand how to control them based on years of experience in the genesis in the 1980s or number of deaths have occurred from exposure associated with it.
[00:05:49] Exposure science covers a broad subject area, including tax ecology and industrial hygiene and risk assessment. From occupational community or environmental exposure exposure scientists apply scientific methodologies to understand exposure risks and apply controls when necessary.
[00:06:07] We at exposure assessment consulting have this expertise. Please reach out to us at info at exposureconsulting.com for a free 15 minute consultation to discuss the specifics of your exposure scenario.
[00:06:22] Is there something that is going to replace it that we are not certain of the health hazards and I say this from a not certain aspect of.
[00:06:33] For cancer outcomes, there's a long latency. Of course we do animal testing we do mechanistic testing to identify we do something else called SAR structural activity relationship to see if there's potential for outcomes, carcinogenic outcomes but.
[00:06:48] Is there something that won't show up in the data for 10 15 20 years from now. From what we may be replacing this with there about what maybe as effective or maybe that replacement we have to use a higher concentration of it is it is important that whatever decisions you make.
[00:07:07] Whether it's replacement of the product or banning or I'll say something in I'll say maybe a body of water where you have to filter out whatever process change you are making what are the downstream effects and I think that's the important thing to understand.
[00:07:25] With not only a method, chloride but a number of different other constituents or chemicals that may be on the I'll say chopping block may be something that is going to be eliminated from use.
[00:07:43] What's going to be replacing it? What are the dangers and whether the hazards or the risks from that replacement. Are there any doing understand them well or is there something else that we are not as sure of but we are.
[00:08:01] Quick to ban on say quick of is obviously years in the making but quick to ban one constituent. We're in to replace it with another and then that next one we don't know.
[00:08:13] With the potential health outcomes are for 10 15 years because maybe a long latency for development of disease whether it's working with the product or manufacturing the product or what have you and then we have to have people that study it is the replacement of product studied well enough.
[00:08:28] Is it effective is it study the certain considered concentration these are all questions that we think about as a exposure scientists when something is removed from the market or something has changed around or there's a rule that says something has now be control well maybe the controlling factor changes the.
[00:08:54] Maybe that target control doesn't only control that one particular constituent maybe it has a secondary effect on other things that may be that we may not want to control so I'll just give this for example, if it's a water if there's water treatment.
[00:09:09] Maybe there's some kind of filtration or some kind of treatment within the water at may. The required because of new maximum contaminant levels that we're controlling for different constituents maybe it's affecting the disinfectant level.
[00:09:23] That's a secondary effect of installing a control system to control something else what are the dangers and risks of the downstream effect of that I think that's very important to is who acknowledge and understand both the exposure scientists as rule makers.
[00:09:38] This is a general population or general public to understand you know what am I being exposed to now do we have sufficient data to support its use.
[00:09:48] Is it going to be something in 10 to 15 years that's going to say maybe it's just as harmful because we've had to use a higher concentration for it to be more effective these are all questions that we're going to be asking.
[00:10:00] So as we look at this a band on methylene chloride and it's use and where else are things going I you know I've seen more and more the EPA has focused on this from the toxic control aspect and a reassessment of these materials are there other things that it would be banned.
[00:10:20] From consumer products or products in general how are these bands going to impact how things are made is it going to add additional costs. Is it going to make things less effective is it going to require us to use more of a product.
[00:10:34] These are all questions that are going to come up not only for this product but future products so when you're looking at EPA and you're looking at the regulations and we're things that they're looking at.
[00:10:43] Maybe take a look and say okay well they're thinking they're proposing banning this or thinking about banning this or doing assessment what happens if we do what is a replacement product you know manufacturers have to think about this too.
[00:10:55] You know if it's an intermediary and their manufacturing process what are they going to replace it with as effective as it's safe. So all questions that that come up in the exposure scientists mind so if you have any questions about methylene chloride.
[00:11:08] I'm going to be doing a deep dive into their risk assessments for identifying what they're rational is what their exposure inputs were see. How realistic they were in relation to their general very conservative input models so any questions about methylene chloride or any of the.
[00:11:27] Regulation as far as toxic chemicals from EPA stance please feel free I'd like to have a conversation further about this I hope you enjoyed today's podcast and look forward to speaking you with the next one thank you.
[00:11:40] Thank you for listening to the exposure scientist podcast you can connect with us at our website expo your consulting dot com where you can book a private consultation and send in any questions regarding any episodes or our guests see you on the next episode. Thank you.