EPA banned chemical linked to cancer, Parkinson’s and fatal heart defects in babies — now industry is lobbying to get it reinstated

• The EPA banned trichloroethylene (TCE) in December 2024 due to its carcinogenic and neurodegenerative effects, but industry groups and some lawmakers are pushing to repeal the ban, risking public health.
• TCE exposure is linked to cancers (liver, kidney, non-Hodgkin lymphoma), Parkinson’s disease, and life-threatening heart defects in infants, with documented cases in contaminated areas like Camp Lejeune.
• The ban faces challenges, including Congressional Review Act repeal efforts, lawsuits from companies, and EPA delays under the Trump administration, prolonging exposure risks for millions.
• Despite decades of evidence, TCE regulation has been slow due to opposition from industry (e.g., chemical lobbyists) and government agencies like the Department of Defense, which oversees many contaminated sites.
• Over 100 health and environmental groups are urging the EPA to uphold the ban, citing preventable deaths and economic benefits, while affected individuals (e.g., veterans, workers) demand action to end TCE’s harm.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took a significant step in December 2024 by banning trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical known for its carcinogenic and neurodegenerative effects. However, this victory for public health is now under threat as industry groups and some members of Congress push to repeal the ban. This reversal could have dire consequences for millions of Americans already suffering from the health impacts of TCE exposure.

The dangers of TCE

Trichloroethylene, or TCE, has a long history of use in various industries, including dry cleaning, manufacturing and degreasing machines. Independent studies and the EPA have linked TCE exposure to several serious health issues:

• Cancer: TCE is a known carcinogen, causing liver cancer, kidney cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
• Parkinson’s disease: Studies have shown that TCE exposure significantly increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
• Heart defects: TCE can cause a potentially fatal heart defect in babies, leading to holes in the heart that can be life-threatening.

Daniel Kinel, a former law office worker in Rochester, New York, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 43. He and three of his colleagues, who all worked in an office next to a dry cleaner that had dumped TCE into the soil, have since developed severe health issues. Kinel’s three colleagues have died, and at least 15 of the firm’s partners developed cancers related to TCE.

“It felt good that we were finally getting rid of this terrible chemical,” Kinel said. “My children and grandchildren would be protected.”

The ban and its challenges

The EPA’s ban on TCE was a hard-fought victory, but it is now facing multiple challenges. Since President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January, the ban has been attacked on several fronts:

1. Legislative efforts: Republicans in the Senate and House have introduced resolutions to repeal the TCE ban using the Congressional Review Act.
2. Legal battles: Companies and trade groups have filed lawsuits to stop the ban from taking effect.
3. Administrative delays: The EPA, under the Trump administration, has requested multiple delays in the implementation of the ban. The latest request to a federal appeals court would push the implementation deadline to the end of May.

These delays mean that people will continue to be exposed to TCE, which is already present in the drinking water of over 17 million Americans, according to data from the Environmental Working Group. Dangerous plumes of TCE have been found in Woburn, Massachusetts; Wichita, Kansas; and Camp Lejeune Marine Corps base in North Carolina, where hundreds of service members have developed Parkinson’s disease and cancer.

Jerry Ensminger, a retired Marine Corps master sergeant whose daughter Janey died from leukemia at age 9, is an outspoken advocate for military families exposed to TCE. “This chemical needs to go away,” Ensminger said. “It’s already caused enough harm.”

Historical context and industry influence

Concerns about TCE’s toxicity have been raised for nearly a century. In 1987, the EPA deemed TCE a “probable human carcinogen.” However, the agency’s efforts to regulate the chemical were slow and often met with resistance from industry and some government scientists.

The U.S. Department of Defense, which is responsible for hundreds of TCE-contaminated sites, has been a significant opponent of stricter regulations. In 2001, a draft EPA assessment found TCE to be highly likely to cause cancer, but this conclusion was attacked by industry and government scientists. Two independent reviews supported the EPA’s findings, but the agency did not begin drafting stricter regulations until the end of President Barack Obama’s administration.

During Trump’s first term, the EPA weakened its report on TCE’s effects on fetal heart abnormalities and halted work on new regulations. Nancy Beck, a former high-level lobbyist for the American Chemistry Council, played a key role in these efforts and has since returned to the EPA as the principal deputy assistant administrator in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.

“The same industry lobbyist who was in charge of EPA’s chemical program before is in charge of it again,” said Daniel Rosenberg, director of federal toxics policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. “That appears to be where this is headed again.”

Public and environmental advocacy

More than 100 groups representing public health, environment and community interests have sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, urging him to reinstate the TCE ban. The letter emphasizes the health benefits of the ban, estimated at $20 million, and warns that delaying implementation will lead to preventable deaths and increased medical costs.

Environmental and labor groups have also filed a court brief opposing the EPA’s efforts to delay the implementation of the TCE ban. Dr. Sara Whittingham, a retired United States Air Force flight surgeon diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at 46, is among those pushing for the ban to remain in place.

“We signed up to go fight for our country,” Whittingham said, “but now the attitude seems to be, ‘We don’t care about your health, you’ve already signed on the dotted line.’ It’s a kind of a kick in the face.”

Conclusion

The fight to protect Americans from the dangers of TCE is far from over. As industry groups and some members of Congress push to reverse the EPA’s ban, the health and safety of millions of people remain at risk. The long history of TCE’s harmful effects and the recent efforts to regulate it highlight the critical importance of robust environmental protections. The public and environmental advocates must continue to raise their voices to ensure that TCE is permanently banned and that the health of future generations is safeguarded.

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.gov

WVIK.org