Dichloromethane, also known as dichloromethane or DCM, is a solvent used in a range of products. The average consumer is most likely to encounter it in paint removers, even though safer alternatives exist. Methylene chloride has been linked to cancer, cognitive impairment and suffocation.

Many people have died from exposure to dichloromethane. In 2017, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed banning the chemical's use to remove paint. In 2019, the EPA only finalized a ban on consumer use and sale, leaving workers unprotected. In 2021, the agency withdrew parts of the proposed rule that protected workers. We call on retailers to take action and stop selling paint removers containing dichloromethane. Also, if you need to remove paint or coatings, be sure to avoid using methylene chloride and other toxic chemicals, such as N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP).

What products contain methylene chloride?

Paint remover: Methylene chloride is a key ingredient in a variety of paint removers sold in the United States.

Adhesives: This chemical is also used in a range of adhesives, such as acrylic cement for hobbyists. For a complete list of binders that contain methylene chloride, click here to see the list developed by the EPA in February 2017 (see pages 7-10)

Other products: Other products containing DCM are used for automotive care, lubrication, photolithography and general cleaning. See the EPA's comprehensive list here.

Other nervous system effects range from sensory disturbances to loss of consciousness. For a first-hand account of someone who has experienced an acute exposure to dichloromethane, check out the beginning of this video from the California FACE Project.

Especially for fetuses: since their hemoglobin has a higher affinity for carbon monoxide than adult hemoglobin, these neurological effects may be exacerbated when fetuses are exposed to high concentrations of DCM.

Long-term exposure (" chronic ") includes:

Neurological effects, such as cognitive impairment, on attention

Cancers of the liver, brain and lung, as well as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma or multiple myeloma

hepatotoxicity

nephrotoxicity

The reproductive toxicity