Risk Management for n-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)
Below is information on EPA actions to manage the unreasonable risk from n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) and protect public health. NMP, also known as n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, or 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, is a chemical that is widely used during the manufacture and production of petrochemicals, electronics and plastic material and resin manufacturing. NMP is used for solvent cleaning and surface treatment of metals, textiles, resins and plastics. In the commercial sector, NMP is used for producing and removing paints, coatings and adhesives. Common consumer uses include paints and coatings, glues and adhesives, paint and adhesive removers, lubricants, and automotive care products.
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- Learn how EPA manages unreasonable risks from chemicals currently on the market.
- View a list of all chemicals undergoing risk evaluation, including docket numbers and agency points of contact.
Managing Risks from NMP
In June 2024 , EPA announced a proposed rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) that would protect workers and consumers from exposure to the solvent NMP. EPA’s 2020 risk evaluation found that this chemical causes serious health effects, including miscarriages and reduced fertility, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys, immune system and nervous system. If finalized, the rule would limit the concentration of NMP that would be allowed in some consumer and commercial products, establish strict workplace health controls for many uses of NMP and ban some uses that cannot safely continue and for which alternatives already exist.
To protect consumers from exposure to NMP in glues and adhesives, EPA is proposing a NMP concentration limit of no greater than 45%, as well as container size limits and labeling requirements for other types of consumer products so that they are not used in commercial settings where their more frequent use could pose risks.
EPA is also proposing a NMP Workplace Chemical Protection Program (WCPP) to protect workers from exposure to NMP for nearly all industrial and commercial uses. The WCPP would include requirements to prevent direct skin contact with NMP that would go into effect a year after the rule is finalized. EPA expects that many sectors, including the semiconductor and lithium-ion battery manufacturing sectors, have already implemented the types of exposure controls in their facilities that EPA would require. For example, semiconductor manufacturing fabrication machines, enclosed and automated tools and clean rooms are some of the exposure controls already in place which EPA expects would meet the requirements of the rule. For several other occupational conditions of use of NMP (such as its use in paints, adhesives, inks, coatings and soldering materials), EPA proposes to require prescriptive workplace controls, including concentration limits and use of personal protective equipment.
EPA is proposing to ban the commercial use of NMP in automotive care products, cleaning and degreasing products, metal products and cleaning and furniture care products because EPA believes these uses cannot safely continue. EPA is also proposing to ban the use of NMP in antifreeze, de-icing products and lubricants because it believes these uses have already ceased. The proposed rule would also ban the commercial use of NMP in fertilizers and other agricultural chemical manufacturing processes because EPA does not currently have information demonstrating that they could be safely continued. For these uses, EPA believes that such information may exist, and EPA expects to conduct proactive outreach during the comment period to better understand industrial practices associated with these uses.
EPA encourages members of the public and stakeholders to read and comment on the proposed rule. EPA has and will continue to engage with industry stakeholders on the proposed rule. The Agency is especially interested in hearing perspectives from the public on the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed requirements for worker protections, including from workers and entities that would be required to implement the workplace protections or from entities that believe they can feasibly implement the workplace protections.
Read the proposed rule. EPA is accepting comments on the proposed rule for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0744 at www.regulations.gov.
The proposed risk management rule is based on EPA’s December 2020 TSCA section 6 risk evaluation, as amended by the December 2022 final revised risk determination for NMP.
In the final revised risk determination, EPA determined that NMP presents an unreasonable risk of injury to human health under its conditions of use. The unreasonable risk is based on serious health risks, including miscarriages and reduced fertility, as well as damage to the liver, kidneys, immune system and nervous system primarily from direct dermal contact with NMP.
Opportunities for Public and Stakeholder Engagement
EPA will accept public comments on the proposed rule for NMP for 45 days following publication in the Federal Register via docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0744 at www.regulations.gov.
To submit a comment, first navigate to the docket in regulations.gov. Then click “Browse Documents” to view the proposed risk management rule. Click on the “Comment” button to submit your comment.
- View a list of all public and stakeholder engagement opportunities related to risk management.
- You can reach out to the EPA point of contact for this chemical, listed at the top right of this page, for more information or to schedule a one-on-one meeting.
- You can also stay informed by signing for our email alerts or checking the public docket at EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0744 at www.regulations.gov.
Past Meetings, Webinars, and Other Engagement Opportunities
EPA held a webinar providing an overview of the proposed risk management rule on June 20, 2024. View materials from the webinar.
EPA completed the Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) panel for the NMP rulemaking on September 14, 2023. Learn more.
EPA held two identical consultation webinars, on July 7, 2021, and July 13, 2021, to consult with communities on risk management for NMP. Materials can be found in the public docket.
On February 24, 2021, EPA held a public webinar on risk management process under TSCA and the findings in the 2020 risk evaluation for NMP.