Document ID: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0725-0066
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2014-09-02T04:00Z

Consumer Fact Sheet: Methylene Choride or Dichloromethane (DCM)
                                       
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Q1. What is Methylene Choride or Dichloromethane (DCM)?
Q2. How is DCM used?
Q3. What uses of DCM did EPA evaluate?
Q4. What are the potential risks to people?
Q5. Are there DCM products available to consumers?
Q6. Are there specific names of products that contain DCM?
Q7. How do I know if DCM is an ingredient in a product?
Q8. What advice does EPA have for consumers and workers to reduce exposure when DCM is used as a paint stripper?
Q9. What action is EPA considering taking to address the health risks?
Q10.  Is EPA evaluating other paint strippers?

Q1. What is Methylene Choride or Dichloromethane (DCM)?

Methylene Chloride, which is also called Dichloromethane or DCM, is a volatile chemical that is produced and imported into the United States, with use estimated at over 260 million pounds per year. 

Q2. How is it used?

DCM is a solvent used in a variety of industries and applications, such as adhesives, paint stripping, pharmaceuticals, metal cleaning, chemical processing, and aerosols. 

Q3. What uses of DCM did EPA evaluate?

EPA's final risk assessment evaluated health risks to consumers and workers using DCM in paint stripper products, as well as bystanders in the workplace and in residences where DCM paint strippers are used. Paint stripping poses some of the highest exposures among the various uses of DCM.

Q4. What are the potential risks to people?

There are health risks to workers and consumers who use DCM-containing products, and to bystanders in workplaces and residences where DCM is used.  Effects of short-term (acute) exposures to workers and consumers, including bystanders, can result in harm to the central nervous system, or neurotoxicity. Effects of longer periods of exposure (chronic) for workers includes liver toxicity, liver cancer, and lung cancer.

Q5. Are products containing DCM available to consumers?

Paint stripping products that contain DCM are widely available in retail stores for purchase by consumers and workers. 

Q6. Are there specific names of products that contain DCM?

Product names and ingredients change. Searching the Internet using the terms "Dichloromethane," "DCM" or "methylene chloride" and "paint stripper" produces results that include names of DCM-containing products.

Q7. How do I know if DCM is an ingredient in a product?

Generally, the product label identifies the ingredients in the product and should be read carefully. You can also consult the material safety data sheet (MSDS) or the product safety data sheet (PSDS) available from manufacturers. DCM can be referred to as dichloromethane or methylene chloride and is sold under a variety of trade names. It is identified by its Chemical Abstract Number: 75-09-2. 

Q8. What advice does EPA have for consumers and workers to reduce exposure when DCM is used as a paint stripper?

People using paint stripping products should follow the manufacturer's instructions.  In general, paint strippers containing DCM should be used outdoors. If work must be done indoors, you should ventilate the work area (e.g., with a fan and fresh air) to reduce exposure to DCM vapors. If the work must occur indoors under low ventilation conditions, you should consider having the work done professionally.

Additionally, skin contact with DCM should be minimized by using DCM-resistant gloves to reduce exposure. Gloves made of polyethylene vinyl alcohol and ethylene vinyl alcohol (PVA/EVA) are resistant to DCM. However, many other types of gloves are not recommended for use with DCM including latex, nitrile, neoprene, polyethylene, and butyl rubber.

For further information on paint strippers, see the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission publication "What You Should Know About Using Paint Strippers" at
http://www.cpsc.gov/Global/Safety%20Education/Home-Appliances-Maintenance-Structure/423%20Paint%20Stripper%20Publication.pdf

Q9. What action is EPA considering taking to address the health risks?

A number of different options exist for mitigating risks from DCM, including transition to safer chemicals and greener processes/technologies, promotion of best practices, and phase out of uses. Implementing these approaches could involve regulatory action, voluntary approaches, or a mixture of both.

EPA is considering a range of possible voluntary and regulatory actions to address risks from the use of DCM-containing paint strippers. The Agency anticipates conducting a workshop in late fall of 2014 to engage key stakeholders and the public on potential alternatives and risk reduction approaches.  

Q10.  Is EPA evaluating other paint strippers?

EPA is currently evaluating risks from the use of N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) containing paint strippers and anticipates issuing the final risk assessment this fall. EPA released the draft risk assessment for NMP which identified risks associated with use of NMP-containing paint strippers. EPA does not expect the final risk assessment to significantly change this conclusion, and therefore recommends that those using NMP-containing paint strippers take measures to minimize exposure. A copy of the draft NMP risk assessment is available at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0725-0004.