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Fatalities due to dichloromethane in paint strippers: a continuing problem
Julia Macisaac1, Robert Harrison, Janani Krishnaswami
1Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
|March 2, 2013
Summary
Fatalities and severe injuries from dichloromethane (DCM) paint strippers persist. This highlights the urgent need to reassess current safety regulations for these hazardous consumer products.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Occupational Health
- Chemical Safety
Background:
- Dichloromethane (DCM), also known as methylene chloride, is a chemical found in paint strippers.
- Regulatory bodies have scrutinized DCM due to its carcinogenic properties identified in the 1980s.
- Exposure to DCM poses significant risks of illness and death.
Observation:
- Two separate workplace incidents involving DCM-based paint strippers were investigated.
- These incidents led to three documented cases of DCM intoxication.
- The cases included two fatalities and one worker requiring hospitalization and intubation due to obtundation.
Findings:
- Both investigated incidents resulted in fatalities.
- A third worker experienced severe neurological impairment (obtundation) necessitating medical intervention.
- Paint stripper use was the direct cause of DCM intoxication in all reported cases.
Implications:
- The continued occurrence of severe outcomes underscores the inadequacy of current safety measures for DCM paint strippers.
- There is a critical need for regulatory agencies to re-evaluate and strengthen existing strategies to prevent DCM-related harm.
- Public health and worker safety demand a comprehensive review of policies governing the use of methylene chloride in consumer products.
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