What Is Methylene Chloride?
ATSDR describes methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane, as a colorless liquid with a mild, sweet odor used as an industrial solvent and paint stripper, and says it may also be found in some aerosol and pesticide products. It says exposure occurs mostly from breathing contaminated air, that breathing in large amounts can damage the central nervous system, and that contact with the eyes or skin can cause burns.
It has been deadly in paint stripping. The EPA said in 2024 that since 1980 at least 88 people have died from acute exposure to methylene chloride, largely workers doing bathtub refinishing or other paint stripping, in some cases while fully trained and equipped with protective equipment. An earlier EPA rule, issued in March 2019 because of fatalities from consumer paint and coating removal, prohibited making, processing and distributing methylene chloride for consumer paint and coating removal after November 22, 2019.
The EPA's 2024 rule went further. It prohibits distributing methylene chloride or products containing it to retailers for any use after February 3, 2025, and prohibits retailers from distributing it for any use after May 5, 2025. The most recent change, a final rule effective December 15, 2025, extended workplace protection and recordkeeping compliance dates for non-federal laboratories by 18 months.
Sources checked September 15, 2026. Every point below links the page it came from.
The sources behind this answer
- Government sourceATSDR describes methylene chloride, also called dichloromethane, as a colorless liquid with a mild, sweet odor used as an industrial solvent and paint stripper, also found in some aerosol and pesticide products. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceATSDR says methylene chloride exposure occurs mostly from breathing contaminated air, that breathing large amounts can damage the central nervous system, and that eye or skin contact can cause burns. ATSDR, CDC ↗
- Government sourceThe EPA said in April 2024 that since 1980 at least 88 people have died from acute methylene chloride exposure, largely workers doing bathtub refinishing or other paint stripping. US EPA ↗
- Regulatory filingThe EPA's 2024 rule prohibits distributing methylene chloride or products containing it to retailers for any use after February 3, 2025, and bars retailers from distributing it after May 5, 2025. US EPA, Federal Register, via GovInfo ↗
- Regulatory filingThe EPA says its March 2019 rule prohibits manufacturing, processing and distributing methylene chloride for consumer paint and coating removal after November 22, 2019, because of fatalities from that use. US EPA ↗
- Regulatory filingIn a final rule effective December 15, 2025, the EPA extended methylene chloride workplace protection and recordkeeping compliance dates for non-federal laboratories by 18 months. US EPA, Federal Register, via GovInfo ↗
Sources checked September 15, 2026. A brand statement is the company’s own claim, which we report but have not verified. Our grades are model-based estimates, not lab tests.