The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken a significant step towards safeguarding public health by banning two harmful chemicals, trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE), commonly found in everyday products.
TCE and PCE are nonflammable chlorinated solvents classified as volatile organic compounds. These chemicals have been widely used in products such as glue, dry cleaning solutions, and stain removers. However, their potential to cause cancer and other severe diseases has raised serious health concerns.
Michal Freedhoff, Assistant Administrator for the EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, emphasized the importance of this ban, stating, \"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.\" Freedhoff added, \"These rules are grounded in the best-available science that demonstrates the harmful impacts of PCE and TCE. EPA continues to deliver on actions that protect people, including workers and children, under the nation's premier bipartisan chemical safety law.\"
Scientific studies have linked TCE to liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Additionally, TCE exposure has been associated with damage to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, immune system, reproductive organs, and fetal heart defects. PCE, on the other hand, is known to cause liver, kidney, brain, and testicular cancer, as well as neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity.
The EPA's decision to ban these chemicals is a proactive measure to reduce the risk of cancer and other health issues among the population. By eliminating the use of TCE and PCE in everyday products, the EPA aims to create a safer environment for all, particularly vulnerable groups such as workers and children.
As the EPA continues to enforce regulations based on robust scientific evidence, consumers can expect to see safer alternatives become more prevalent in the market, promoting overall public health and well-being.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
