EPA Advances TSCA Review of trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene by Releasing Draft Risk Evaluation

Released on August 28, 2026

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is advancing its review of trans-1,2-dichloroethylene under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by releasing its draft risk evaluation for public comment. trans-1,2-Dichlorothylene is used in industrial and commercial settings in cleaning and degreasing, and as a processing aid, as well as in consumer settings as a cleaner or degreaser and as a propellant in foam insulation. EPA evaluated potential risks across the chemical's lifecycle since workers and occupational non-users may be exposed during manufacturing (import), processing, distribution, industrial use, commercial use, and disposal while consumers may be exposed during cleaning and degreasing activities and as propellants in foam insulation. Evaluating the chemical across all these pathways is how EPA determines where new protections are needed, and where existing safeguards are sufficient, to set protections so workers, communities and families have safe air, land and water. 

As TSCA requires, EPA gave particular attention to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations — such as children and pregnant women — and, using gold-standard science including chemical-specific monitoring data, exposure modeling, and the best available scientific information, the draft identifies significant contributions to unreasonable risk to workers and occupational non-users from inhalation exposure under 19 conditions of use. One consumer use of trans-1,2-dichloroethylene as a cleaner or degreaser was preliminarily found to contribute to unreasonable risk based on inhalation exposure. The draft does not identify unreasonable risk to the general population or the environment. 

All current protections for trans-1,2-dichloroethylene remain in place while EPA completes this review; releasing a draft risk evaluation does not alter any existing safeguards. After considering public comments and feedback from the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals, EPA will finalize the evaluation. If EPA continues to find unreasonable risk, the agency will propose risk management actions under TSCA section 6(a) to address those exposures on a clear and accountable timeline. 

This risk evaluation is draft and does not represent EPA's final determination regarding the risks posed by this chemical. Findings and conclusions may change based on feedback received during the public comment period and based on external peer review of the underlying science. 

EPA is accepting public comments for 60 days in the trans-1,2-dichloroethylene TSCA docket, EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0465, at Regulations.gov. EPA will carefully consider all input before finalizing the evaluation in accordance with TSCA requirements.