The chemical is primarily used in industrial and commercial applications, including as a reactant in chemical processing and as a laboratory chemical. EPA recognizes 1,2-dichloropropane as likely to be carcinogenic to humans and evaluated both cancer and non-cancer effects.

EPA said 1,2-dichloropropane has not appeared in U.S.-manufactured cleaning and furnishing-care products since 2022. The agency nevertheless evaluated those consumer uses because imported products could still contain the chemical. EPA did not preliminarily identify unreasonable risk to the general population, including fenceline communities, or to the environment.

Historically, 1,2-dichloropropane was used in products including paint strippers, varnishes and furniture-finish removers, although those U.S. uses largely disappeared decades ago.

The draft does not impose new requirements. EPA will take public comments for 60 days following publication of the Federal Register notice and obtain external scientific review before completing its final evaluation. If the final evaluation continues to find unreasonable risk, the agency would move to risk management under TSCA Section 6(a).

This evaluation concerns a different chemical from EPA's Aug. 28 draft for trans-1,2-dichloroethylene, which PCI previously covered. That evaluation centered primarily on inhalation risks associated with a solvent currently used in cleaning and degreasing, while the new 1,2-dichloropropane draft includes dermal exposure and a chemical now used primarily as an industrial intermediate.

Although 1,2-dichloropropane is no longer a significant ingredient in U.S.-made coatings or paint-removal products, the evaluation is part of EPA's continuing review of industrial chemicals under TSCA. Its historical coatings uses and potential presence in imported products give the draft relevance to chemical suppliers and manufacturers tracking future restrictions.