Dichloromethane (Methylene Chloride) in Paint Strippers: Survey of Retail Stores

Details

• Personal Author:
  Harrison, Robert ; Joe L ; Krishnaswami J ; McNary, Jennifer ; Shusterman D
• Description:
  After numerous deaths from acute exposure to paint strippers containing dichloromethane (DCM), the European Parliament voted in 2009 to ban the marketing of DCM-based paint strippers for use by the general public and professionals after June 6, 2012. DCM can now be used only in certain fixed-site industrial installations with strict safety measures. In passing the legislation banning the use of DCM in paint strippers, the European Parliament noted that: "Paint strippers containing DCM are used by members of the general public at home to remove paints, varnishes and lacquers both indoors and outdoors. The safe use of DCM by them cannot be ensured by training or monitoring (italics added). Therefore, the only measure effective in eliminating the risks arising for the general public from paint strippers containing DCM is a ban, with respect to the general public, on the marketing, supply and use of such paint strippers." In contrast to Europe, DCM-based paint strippers are widely available in US retail stores for purchase by both consumers and workers. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires a cautionary label on paint strippers that indicates potential cancer hazard, an explanation of factors that contribute to risk, and safeguards such as using DCM containing products in a well-ventilated area. Despite the labeling, however, consumers and workers may not understand that deadly levels of DCM vapors can quickly accumulate in enclosed rooms. In 1991, CPSC conducted a nationwide telephone survey of households to determine how DCM product labeling influences consumer use patterns. Of those who reported using DCM products, over three-quarters stated they did not change their behavior after reading directions on labels. In addition, over three-quarters of respondents indicated that they had no knowledge of whether products they used contained DCM. Recently, thirteen deaths in bathtub refinishers who used paint strippers containing DCM have been reported, and the California Department of Public Health has posted two additional case reports of worker deaths related to DCM exposure. One death occurred after a DCM-based paint stripper was used to clean the baptismal font in a church, and another when a DCM-based paint stripper was used to clean the inside of a paint tank. The CPSC has also received one report of a consumer death from a paint stripper containing DCM. In this incident, a 45-year old man in Houston, Texas, died after using a DCM-containing paint stripper to remove finish from the walls of his bathroom. After these reports of acute fatalities caused by DCM, the California Department of Public Health - Occupational Health Branch (OHB) sought to assess the availability of DCM and alternative paint strippers in a sample of hardware and paint stores. This survey was intended to inform future efforts to disseminate prevention and educational materials including up-to-date information on alternative products and methods available for paint stripping. Additionally, because precautionary labeling alone does not appear to be sufficient enough to influence behavior change, OHB was interested in learning the extent of health and safety information store workers would provide at the point of purchase. To address these questions, OHB conducted a survey of hardware and paint stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. The survey addressed availability, price, and variety of DCM-containing paint strippers and safer alternatives; store employee recommendations on safe usage; and placement of product warning labels. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Behavior Methylene Chloride Mortality Occupational Health Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Dichloromethane Fatalities Hazard Labels Methylene Chloride Paint Removers Retail Workers
• Publisher:
  California Department of Public Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Report
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 6 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-10
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059462
• Citation:
  Richmond, CA: California Department of Public Health, 2013 Jan; :1-10
• Contact Point Address:
  California Department of Public Health, Occupational Health Branch, 850 Marina Bay Parkway, P-3, Richmond, CA 94804
• Email:
  lauren.joe@cdph.ca.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Dichloromethane (CAS RN 75-09-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2013
• Performing Organization:
  Public Health Institute
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) in paint strippers: survey of retail stores
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:a13d0b25d1511b3166b2dac8706d7b9d1d5e2cbc9de3faaf9a861a4ad7b93c652001505aa7c4f98e9f819fc5a43b63b5173c73fe4bd3c6d173456b44679e7fd8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223683/cdc_223683_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 326.13 KB ]