EPA Finalizes Bans of Solvents TCE and PCE

EPA announced on Monday risk management rules for two solvents that are often used as alternatives for each other: trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE). The new rules will ban all uses of TCE and many uses of PCE.

Most uses of TCE, including its manufacture and processing for all consumer and most commercial products, will be prohibited within one year. All other uses of TCE will be phased out over a longer period, with EPA requiring compliance with a workplace chemical protection program and controls intended to limit occupational exposure to the substance.

Most uses of PCE will be required to be phased out in less than three years, but the rule allows for a 10-year phaseout for PCE’s uses in dry cleaning to allow small businesses time to transition away from the chemical. Uses of PCE related to national security, aviation, and other critical infrastructure are among those that will be allowed to continue. Workplaces that continue using PCE must follow a workplace chemical protection program, which the pre-publication copy of the rule says will include “an inhalation exposure concentration limit, direct dermal contact controls, and related workplace exposure controls.”

TCE is used mostly in industrial and commercial applications such as vapor degreasing and the manufacture of certain refrigerants. The solvent is also used by consumers in cleaning and furniture care products, spray coatings for arts and crafts, and automotive care products like brake cleaners. PCE, also known as perc, is used in applications such as dry cleaning, aerosol degreasing, petroleum manufacturing, and fluorinated compound production. Both TCE and PCE are known to cause cancer.

Both risk management rules will go into effect 30 days after they are published in the Federal Register. Prepublication copies of the rules for TCE (PDF) and PCE (PDF) are available from EPA’s website.

EPA plans to release compliance guides for the TCE rule and for the use of PCE in dry cleaning and energized electrical cleaning. Those guides are anticipated to be published in the coming months. Individuals who are interested in learning more about the PCE rule can register at no cost to attend an EPA webinar that will be held on Jan. 15, 2025. The webinar will provide an overview of the PCE rule and how it will be implemented.