New EPA Regulations Require Rigorous Safety Standards for Methylene Chloride Use in Laboratories and Industries

 
Methylene chloride, also known as dichloromethane or DCM, is one of the most widely used laboratory solvents because of its relative versatility, low boiling point, and chemical stability. It’s also highly toxic due to the chemical’s potential to cause acute and chronic health effects, such as cancer, through inhalation or dermal exposure.

In 2019, the U.S. EPA first banned the commercial use of methylene chloride in paint and coating removers. In May 2024, the EPA issued a TSCA that expanded the prohibitions on most methylene chloride uses but allows for its controlled use in certain applications, including laboratories, when handled with rigorous worker protections, such as ventilation, PPE, and worker training. Consumer use will be phased out within a year, and most industrial and commercial uses will be prohibited within two years.

Under the new TSCA rule, the EPA allows the continued use of methylene chloride as a laboratory chemical, with stringent requirements to assess and control employee exposure to this chemical. Labs in biotechnology, higher education, hospitals, and pharmaceutical companies, which already may be subject to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard for this chemical, are required to implement and manage the EPA’s regulatory requirements beginning in 2026.

Most impactful for laboratory workplaces, the EPA’s final rule mandates a WCPP with stricter occupational exposure limits (OELs) and dermal protections than required for methylene chloride under OSHA.

Navigating OSHA vs. EPA Standards

Organizations with applicable labs have long been required to follow OSHA’s Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories standard (29 C.F.R. 1910.1450), which protects lab workers who handle hazardous chemicals and OSHA’s Methylene Chloride Standard (29 C.F.R. 1910.1052), which if warranted requires monitoring, control measures, recordkeeping, regulated areas, and medical surveillance. The EPA has designed their WCPP requirement so that it is similar to OSHA’s standard for methylene chloride, although there are some important differences.

OSHA’s Laboratory Safety Standard requires organizations with applicable labs to develop a Chemical Hygiene Plan (CHP) to address how to safely procure, store, handle, and dispose of chemicals. Employers with labs must also follow the OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) for chemicals in workplace settings. For methylene chloride, OSHA’s PEL is 25 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) and 125 ppm for a 15-minute short-term exposure limit (STEL).

In contrast, the EPA’s WCPP requires facilities owners and operators using methylene chloride to take appropriate measures to meet new inhalation exposure limits, which do not exceed 2 ppm as an 8-hour TWA and 16 ppm as a 15-minute STEL. The EPA requires initial exposure monitoring for any laboratory that uses methylene chloride (unless recent data from within five years can be used to demonstrate exposures are below the exposure limits under the new EPA rule). Note that because the new EPA limits are so far below the OSHA limits, it is possible that existing exposure monitoring data that organizations have are not low enough to demonstrate compliance with the new EPA standard.

Organizations with laboratories that use methylene chloride must now follow the EPA’s revised TSCA compliance deadlines, beginning with initial exposure monitoring by November 9, 2026 for existing facilities or within 30 days of first use for new ones. If exposures exceed the new limits, labs must establish regulated areas and implement required respiratory protection by February 8, 2027 for existing facilities and within 90 days of initial monitoring for new facilities.

In addition, non-federal laboratories must develop and implement a full WCPP by May 10, 2027, which aligns with the requirement to develop and implement an exposure control plan. Whenever it is feasible, organizations are encouraged to work with their chemistry teams to eliminate methylene chloride use or transition to safer alternatives. Periodic monitoring must be conducted, as a minimum, every five years.

The Impact on Labs

Individuals responsible for safety and compliance in their labs, such as environmental health and safety (EH&S) and Industrial Hygiene (IH) professionals, need to understand the EPA’s new rule on methylene chloride, the associated deadlines, as well as figure out how to navigate both OSHA’s regulations/standards and the EPA’s requirements, which can be confusing and time-consuming.

The EPA has stated organizations with labs can use existing chemical hygiene plans to fulfill some of the documentation requirements listed in the WCPP. For large organizations, such as major biotechnology, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and universities and colleges, the time and costs to comply with the EPA’s new regulations are more feasible compared to smaller organizations that don’t have the same resources.

How EH&E Can Help

As a trusted partner, EH&E offers comprehensive solutions to help organizations, especially smaller ones, navigate the complexities of EPA’s new methylene chloride regulations. Our experts provide tailored guidance, from initial assessments to ongoing compliance support, ensuring adherence to both EPA and OSHA standards. We specialize in laboratory safety, assisting with CHP updates, exposure monitoring plans, control measure evaluations, and employee training programs. With our team of certified professionals, we can help your organization achieve and maintain regulatory compliance while prioritizing the safety and well-being of your staff.

Our experienced Certified Industrial Hygienists, Certified Safety Professionals, and Certified Chemical Hygiene Officers can help laboratories understand the specific requirements under the EPA’s new TSCA rule and OSHA’s standards by identifying areas where labs may not meet regulatory requirements. Contact us today to speak with an expert.

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