A Biden-era ban on a dangerous industrial solvent known to cause cancer, Parkinson’s, and fatal birth defects is now under threat as Republicans and industry groups push to reverse it.
Sharon Lerner and Lisa Song report for ProPublica.
In short:
- Trichloroethylene (TCE), used in dry cleaning and industry, has polluted drinking water, sickened communities, and is linked to Parkinson’s, cancer, and fatal heart defects in babies.
- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2023 ban is vulnerable under the Congressional Review Act and is now delayed following legal and legislative efforts by Republicans and chemical industry allies.
- The same industry-linked officials who previously helped gut chemical safety rules under Trump have returned to key EPA posts, raising alarm among scientists and advocates.
Key quote:
“Delaying implementation of these rules will lead to preventable death, disease and incapacitation and increase medical costs and hardships to families and communities.”
— Letter from over 100 public health, environmental, and community groups to EPA administrator Lee Zeldin
Why this matters:
TCE is in the water supplies of over 17 million Americans, and delaying its ban puts workers, children, and entire communities at risk. At its heart, this is a fight about who gets to breathe clean air, drink safe water, and raise kids without fearing what’s in their backyard. And it’s a reminder that chemical pollution isn’t just a relic of the past—it’s a political choice still being made today.
Read more: The ‘horror story’ of hazardous waste in a small Pennsylvania town
