EPA Finalizes Rule Regulating Perchloroethylene

SG 187/24

Perchloroethylene to be banned in all consumer and many commercial and industrial uses. A Workplace Chemical Protection Program is required for continuing use.

On December 18, 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule (89 FR 103560) to regulate the use of the solvent perchloroethylene (PCE, Perc, CAS No. 127–18–4). This comes after the EPA’s proposed rule in June 2023, followed by a subsequent comment period (SG 76/23).

Perchloroethylene is one of the first 10 chemicals listed for review by the agency in 2016. The EPA is tasked with evaluating these chemicals for potential risks to human health and the environment under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). If the risk evaluation determines the chemicals pose an unreasonable risk, the agency is required to mitigate that risk. Following this process, the EPA has already proposed rules for carbon tetrachloride, N-methylpyrrolidone, and 1-bromopropane (SG 96/24, SG 131/24) and finalized rules for asbestos, methylene chloride and trichloroethylene (SG 77/24, SG 186/24).

PCE, also known by the name tetrachloroethylene, is a colorless liquid used in consumer applications such as adhesives and brake cleaners, as well as industrial and commercial applications such as the dry cleaning of fabrics, production of fluorinated compounds and aerosol degreasing. The EPA has determined significant adverse health effects associated with the use of PCE and is addressing the concern by amending 40 CFR 751 ‘Regulation of certain chemical substances and mixtures’ under section 6 of TSCA.

The final rule bans all PCE uses in consumer products as well as many commercial and industrial uses within a three-year time frame. Table 1 highlights details of selected prohibitions under the rule.

Table 1

Furthermore, the rule sets phase-out dates for the usage of PCE in dry cleaning applications and emergency use by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It also sets controls for continuing uses such as, but not limited to, a solvent in vapor degreasing, adhesives and sealants under a Workplace Chemical Protection Program.

The prohibitions do not apply to products containing PCE at concentrations below 0.1% (w/w).

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