If you’ve ever used a can of paint stripper, you know it smells toxic. But did you know that even short-term exposure could be deadly?
Under the newly reformed Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed limits on the use of two common chemicals in paint strippers methylene chloride (DCM) and N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP). Your voice can help make sure the final regulations are strong sign the petition—take action now to get these dangerous chemicals off store shelves and out of the workplace.
Paint strippers containing (DCM) have been linked to more than 50 deaths nationwide since the 1980’s—many from projects like refinishing bathtubs in confined spaces. Long-term exposure has been linked to liver toxicity, liver cancer and lung cancer.
NMP exposure puts women of childbearing age and pregnant women—whether exposed at home or on the job—at risk of harm to their fetuses. And workers chronically exposed to NMP are at risk of liver damage and cancer. There’s even evidence that solvent exposure in men can result in damaged sperm causing birth defects and low birth weight. For full article: saferchemicals.org
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