Why Is Methylene Chloride Regulated?
Needless to say, there has been a great deal of controversy regarding the use of methylene chloride in industry. The bottom line is that methylene chloride remains the most effective and efficient means of commercially removing the widest variety of coatings from wood and several other substrates. Also, studies of actual human beings chronically exposed to methylene chloride at 250 ppm for 7.5 hours per day demonstrated no increased risk of cancer due to exposure to methylene chloride in the workplace. One of these studies was conducted over a 20 year period. However, a study of mice conducted over 2 years by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) showed development of liver and lung tumors at exposures of 2000 ppm and higher. As a result, OSHA has classified methylene chloride as a carcinogen. Methylene chloride has long been known to have negative effects on the central nervous system and concentrations between 900-1000 ppm can cause dizziness. Concentrations above 2000 ppm can result
