· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: The EPA has banned two carcinogenic chemicals, trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (perc), used in consumer and industrial products like degreasers, dry cleaning solvents, and adhesives
• TCE will be fully prohibited within a year, while perc use will be phased out over the next decade for dry cleaning and three years for consumer products
• The bans mark a significant effort by the Biden administration to reduce environmental and health risks from toxic substances
🔭 The context: Both chemicals have long been linked to severe health problems, including various cancers, nervous system damage, and reproductive harm
• Advocacy for banning TCE dates back to the 1980s when contamination in Woburn, Massachusetts, caused a childhood leukemia cluster
• The EPA’s decision follows decades of warnings and stricter state-level actions, including California’s ban on perc in 2023
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: TCE and perc contaminate air, water, and soil, persisting in the environment for decades and posing ongoing risks to human and ecological health
• Eliminating these chemicals will reduce pollution and help protect vulnerable communities near industrial sites
• However, cleanup challenges for already contaminated areas remain a significant environmental hurdle
⏭️ What's next: Industries must transition to safer alternatives, with federal and local programs offering financial support for businesses to adopt eco-friendly methods
• The EPA will enforce stricter worker safety regulations for limited continued uses of these chemicals
Environmental advocates stress the need for broader reforms to mitigate existing contamination
💬 One quote: “The only thing that we could do to really address the risks of this incredibly dangerous chemical was to ban it because there was no way to keep people and the environment safe from its effects” — Michal Freedhoff, EPA Assistant Administrator
📈 One stat: Perc contamination can persist in the environment for decades, with even tiny spills capable of seeping through concrete and transforming into other harmful carcinogens like vinyl chloride
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