Methylene Chloride: Hazardous Substance & The Right To Know

 Methylene Chloride is a colorless, volatile, liquid with a sweet odor. It is used as a paint and varnish remover, solvent for plastics, degreasing agents, propellants, and blowing agents. This highly toxic chemical is on the Right to Know Hazardous Substance List because it is cited by OSHA, ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, NTP, DEP, IARC, IRIS, NFPA and EPA. Methylene chloride is a listed hazardous waste under the California Hazardous Waste Control Act. The law requires hazardous waste to be disposed at a permitted hazardous waste disposal or treatment facility. This means all waste created from using methylene chloride as a stripping agent requires special disposal. Not to mention all the direct health risks associated with using this chemical. 

• Methylene Chloride can affect you when inhaled and by passing through the skin
• Methylene Chloride should be handled as a CARCINOGEN and MUTAGEN--WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
• Contact can severely irritate and burn the skin and eyes with possible eye damage.
• Inhaling methylene chloride can irritate the nose, throat and lungs.
• Higher exposure can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, unconsciousness, and even death.
• Methylene Chloride may damage the liver and affect the kidneys and brain.

Methylene Chloride is found in consumer products such as spray shoe polish, water repellents, spot removers, wood floor and panel cleaners, adhesive removers, lubricants, wood stains, varnishes and finishes, paint strippers and graffiti removal products, rust removers, glass frosting/artificial snow, and some automotive part cleaning products. Follow this link for a hazardous substance fact sheet on methylene chloride http://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1255.pdf The facts are staggering but there are products being developed that will benefit consumers in the end. 

      EZ Strip is a line of paint and coating removal products free of harsh and toxic chemicals like methylene chloride making them completely safe for consumer use. These products provide a safe alternative to chemical stripping and have a very low environment impact. The waste created from stripping with EZ Strip products is completely safe to dispose of in your regular garbage (provided material does not contain lead). Visit the EZ Strip website http://ezstrip.ca/ to get safe alternatives for your projects! Protecting consumers from carcinogenic chemicals like methylene chloride can prevent cancer and save lives! Thanks for reading you can help support safer paint removal options with purchase power! Purchase EZ Strip products for your next removal project from homedepot.ca available soon together we can make a difference!