EPA Announces HUGE Ban

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(DailyEmailNews.com) – In much-needed action to protect public health, the EPA has banned two notorious cancer-linked solvents from the dry cleaning industry.

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This marks a significant move towards eliminating harmful chemicals from everyday products, a step many believe was long overdue.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially banned trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (Perc), two chemicals historically used in the dry cleaning industry.

These solvents, known for their carcinogenic properties, have posed serious health risks to workers and surrounding communities.

TCE, specifically, has been linked to liver cancer, kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and damage to the nervous and immune systems.

The EPA’s ban on TCE covers all of its uses, ensuring a complete phase-out of this dangerous chemical.

On the other hand, Perc’s ban targets consumer use, although some industrial uses will be permitted under stringent conditions.

While the complete prohibition on most TCE usage is set to take effect within a year, Perc will face a 10-year phaseout for its application in the dry cleaning industry, KSBN reports.

Communities have been applauding this long-awaited decision, given the carcinogenic threat these chemicals posed.

TCE and Perc have contaminated drinking water supplies across the U.S., affecting places like Camp Lejeune and Woburn, Massachusetts.

These locations were among many to suffer from health crises due to contaminated water, highlighting the urgency of the EPA’s decision.

“It’s simply unacceptable to continue to allow cancer-causing chemicals to be used for things like glue, dry cleaning or stain removers when safer alternatives exist,” said EPA’s assistant administrator for the office of chemical safety and pollution prevention Michal Freedhoff.

The Biden administration’s decision to enforce these bans stems from a strong foundation of scientific evidence demonstrating the harmful impacts of TCE and Perc.

These new regulations form part of a broader initiative aimed at replacing hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives.

According to the EPA, there are numerous viable substitutes available, promising a smoother transition away from these dangerous substances.

Despite the significant updates to the nation’s toxics law that these bans represent, some critics may view this as a symbolic gesture rather than substantive action.

However, the EPA’s commitment to phasing out these chemicals demonstrates a major shift towards prioritizing public health over industrial convenience.

“These rules are grounded in the best-available science that demonstrates the harmful impacts of PCE and TCE,” Michal Freedhoff concluded.