The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on May 20 proposed to extend the deadline for laboratories to comply with its methylene chloride rule by 18 months. The rule, finalized in May 2024, bans nearly all uses of methylene chloride, a popular solvent that has been linked to adverse health effects and 85 workplace and consumer deaths.
The regulation carves out an exception for the solvent’s use as a laboratory chemical. But it requires all nonfederal labs still using the compound to implement strict workplace safety measures between May and October of this year. The first deadline, which passed on May 5, requires labs to measure workers’ initial exposure levels.
Under the May 20 proposal, labs would instead need to implement these requirements between November 2026 and May 2027.
Shortly after the initial rule was finalized, several lab safety professionals told C&EN that the short timeline could pose considerable challenges, particularly to smaller institutions with fewer resources. In its announcement of the possible extension, the EPA says it heard similar concerns from labs associated with universities and local governments.
“EPA’s proposal would avoid disrupting important environmental monitoring and associated activities, while these non-federal labs work to comply with the rule’s new requirements,” the agency says.
Having watched how the government works a little more closely over the last four years or so, this is not that surprising. Nevertheless (as one of the academics says), chemical academia is mostly ready, but I am guessing individual laboratories are not. This will be interesting to see what the Zeldin-directed EPA decides to do.
How does one measure DCM exposure levels? Is there an equivalent sensor to a Geiger Counter? If such a device existed then the company would be sure to get a boost in sales from this legislation. For most things though it will probably be less of a headache to stop using it. And just the few niche cases where DCM is unique for solubility parameters (or other specs) will try to adapt as easily as possible.
ReplyDeleteThey make a device that is analyzed post-work, similar to other chemical exposure devices.
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