EPA to review more chemicals in home improvement products

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it is taking a closer look at new uses of glymes, chemicals used in a wide array of consumer products that include paints and coatings, adhesives and household batteries, as well as printing ink and motor vehicle brake systems. 

The EPA’s proposed action is based in part on concerns that additional uses of these 14 chemicals in consumer products could lead to harmful reproductive and developmental health effects, the announcement said.   

“This proposed rule would enable [the] EPA to evaluate the use of these chemicals before Americans are subject to additional exposure to them in numerous consumer products” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “We need to take a closer look at the potential health effects that additional exposure to these chemicals could have.”