EPA Bans Known Carcinogens Used in Dry Cleaning, Other Industries

[cbabe]

https://www.commondreams.org/news/epa-bans-known-carcinogens-used-in-dry-cleaning-other-industries

EPA Bans Known Carcinogens Used in Dry Cleaning, Other Industries

"Both of these chemicals have caused too much harm for too long, despite the existence of safer alternatives," said one environmental campaigner.

JON QUEALLY
Dec 09, 2024

The Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency on Monday announced a permanent ban on a pair of carcinogenic chemicals widely used in U.S. industries, including dry cleaning services and automative work.

…

Jonathan Kalmuss-Katz, a senior attorney at Earthjustice, applauded the move but suggested to the Post that it should have come sooner.

"Both of these chemicals have caused too much harm for too long, despite the existence of safer alternatives," Kalmuss-Katz.

The EPA's decision, reports the New York Times, was "long sought by environmental and health advocates, even as they braced for what could be a wave of deregulation by the incoming Trump administration."

… more …

[John1956PA]

1. Senator Paul Tsongas, who died of cancer in 1997, blamed such chemicals for his disease.

As a young person, Paul Tsongas had worked in his family's dry cleaning business.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. The chemicals are trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene ("perc").

"Perc" comes from "perchloroethylene", an irregular and confusing name used only in industry. In more formal chemical nomenclature, the name might suggest the presence of a perchloryl group, which is not present. But the obvious abbreviation of TCE was already taken.

Tetrachloroethylene was the chemical responsible for toxicity and carcinogenicity in the W.R. Grace chemical waste dump made notorious by the book and film, A Civil Action. The solvent was used as a degreaser, if my info is correct. That's more or less what "dry" cleaning is -- cleaning with liquids other than water, and usually water-immiscible, which usually means oil-soluble. Great for removing oil and grease (like dissolves like), but hazardous.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichloroethylene#Cleaning_solvent
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrachloroethylene#Health_and_safety

[CousinIT]

3. Once SHitler's criminal enterprise decapitates the EPA, bans on these and other carcinogens ...

...will be GONE, along with clean air and water rules and everything else.

Dog help us all.