The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed banning most uses of perchloroethylene (PCE), a toxic solvent known to cause serious health risks, including cancer. All consumer uses would be prohibited, but many industrial and commercial uses would be permitted to continue “where strict workplace controls could be implemented,” including those related to aviation.
PCE is a solvent that is widely used for consumer purposes, such as brake cleaners and adhesives, commercial applications such as dry cleaning, and in many industrial settings. This rule proposes to continue to allow the industrial and commercial use of PCE in petrochemical manufacturing, the production of coatings for aircraft skins, and vapor degreasing with PCE to make aerospace parts and engines. The chemical is also contained in some lubricants, paints, coatings, and paint removers.
The proposal would require a gradual, 24-month shutdown in the manufacturing, processing, and distribution of PCE for all consumer uses and some industrial and commercial uses. According to the EPA, “The uses subject to the proposed prohibitions represent less than 20 percent of the annual production volume of PCE.” For the majority of PCE uses that the EPA is proposing to prohibit, it said alternative products with similar costs and efficacy are reasonably available.
There will be a 60-day comment period from the date the notice of proposed rulemaking is published in the Federal Register.