On 1 May 2026, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will regulate 15 industrial and commercial uses of 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA, also known as ethylene dichloride or EDC) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to protect American workers. The decision is based on the agency’s final risk evaluation, which found that 1,2-DCA presents an unreasonable risk to workers through inhalation and skin exposure in 15 out of 20 conditions of use. No unreasonable risks were identified for consumers, the general population (including Tribal and subsistence fishing communities), or the environment. 1,2-DCA is a critical building block for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is widely used in water infrastructure, electrical systems, building materials, healthcare devices, and transportation. The forthcoming workplace regulations aim to safeguard workers - including vulnerable groups such as pregnant workers and women of childbearing age - while supporting American manufacturing and the PVC industry, primarily concentrated along the Gulf Coas.
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