EPA Takes Landmark Step to Protect Public from Cancer-causing Toxic Chemical

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today finalized a rule banning the cancer-causing solvent trichloroethylene (TCE), which is used in adhesives, paint strippers and dry cleaning.

Following is a reaction by Daniel Rosenberg, director of federal toxics policy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

"Banning TCE is a landmark step forward to protect public health.

"Overcoming decades of resistancefrom the chemical industry, today's action shows that EPA and the Toxic Substances Control Act can protect the public, as Congress intended. The chemical industry may try to overturn this rule, but anyone serious about protecting our health should support this action. EPA cannot allow the slow poisoning of the public with toxic solvents like TCE to continue."

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).