"A chemical found in paint strippers is associated with more deaths than previously thought, according to research published Monday in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Researchers consulted studies and government databases for deaths associated with the chemical methylene chloride from 1980 to 2018. They further analyzed a combination of inspection reports, medical records and autopsy reports from August 2018 to August 2020.

“Results of this case series demonstrated that despite regulations to address the toxic effects of methylene chloride use for consumers and workers, there are continuing fatalities in the US, particularly in occupational settings,” researchers wrote. “Prevention of fatalities associated with methylene chloride exposure should emphasize the use of safer substitutes, rather than hazard warnings or reliance on personal protective equipment.”

While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has acknowledged the compound was tied to 53 deaths between 1980 and 2018, the study indicated 85 deaths tied to it during the same time frame. Of those, 87 percent occurred in workplaces."

Zack Budryk reports for The Hill April 19, 2021. [2]