The stories are heart-breaking. Men in the prime of life, killed while using deadly paint strippers available on the shelves of any Lowe's or Home Depot.
Methylene chloride has been linked to more than 60 deaths nationwide since 1980. The chemical is also linked to lung and liver cancer, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. It's been banned from paint strippers in the EU since 2012. N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP) impacts fetal development and can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. According to the EPA, more than 60,000 U.S. workers and 2 million consumers are exposed to these chemicals each year.
The EPA proposed a ban on products with these toxic chemicals in January of 2017, but after intense lobbying from industry, the rules have been put on hold. In the meantime, four more people have died.
Lowe's doesn't need to wait. There are products available that won't kill their customers. All the home store needs to do is stop selling these deadly products. Take action today and urge Lowe's to do the right thing for the safety of their customers, and the devastated families left behind.
This campaign is a partnership with Safer Chemicals Healthy Families. Find out more about this effort here.
