(AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed banning the cancer-causing chemical trichloroethylene, which can be found in consumer products including automobile brake cleaners, furniture care and arts and crafts spray coating.
“Today, EPA is taking a major step to protect people from exposure to this cancer-causing chemical.”Massachusetts Sen. Edward Markey, who has led the effort to ban TCE, welcomed the move.
Political Cartoons View All 1215 Images“With this rule, we can see a future where we will no longer be manufacturing, processing and distributing a chemical known to be deadly,” Markey said.
The chemical presents an “unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment” in 52 of 54 uses in industrial and consumer products, the EPA has found.
The 2016 law required the EPA to evaluate chemicals and put in place protections against unreasonable risks.
Persons:
TCE, Michal Freedhoff, Massachusetts Sen, Edward Markey, ” Markey, “, Anne Anderson, Jimmy, Anne, ” Anderson, Frank, Matthew Daly
Organizations:
Environmental Protection Agency, of Chemical Safety, “, EPA, Woburn, Andersons, Chemical, Press
Locations:
WOBURN, Mass, U.S, United States, Massachusetts, Woburn ., America, Woburn, Washington