EPA Releases Draft Risk Evaluation for 1,2-Dichloropropane, Advances Review under TSCA
Released on September 2, 2026
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is advancing its review of 1,2-dichloropropane under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by releasing the draft risk evaluation and associated technical support documents for public comment. 1,2-Dichloropropane is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweet, chloroform-like odor. The chemical is used in industrial and commercial applications, including as a laboratory chemical and in processing as a reactant. 1,2-Dichloropropane has been recognized as likely to be carcinogenic to humans, and EPA’s draft evaluated both cancer and non-cancer health effects. This chemical has been used in cleaning and furnishing care products but has not appeared in U.S. manufactured products since 2022. While these uses were phased out in U.S. product formulations four years ago, EPA included these uses in its risk evaluation because products made outside the U.S. might still contain the chemical and find their way into American homes and businesses. EPA welcomes information identifying specific imported products that may contain 1,2-dichloropropane so that these exposures can be considered as the review proceeds.
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 when using this chemical as a cleaner, polish or wax. 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 and dermal exposure under 11 conditions of use. Three consumer uses of 1,2-dichloropropane as a cleaner, polish or wax were preliminarily found to contribute to unreasonable risk based on inhalation and dermal exposure. Based on the reasonably available information, the draft does not identify unreasonable risk to the general population, including fenceline communities, or to the environment. EPA specifically invites data during the comment period that could inform this preliminary conclusion.
All current protections for 1,2-dichloropropane remain in place while EPA completes this review; releasing a draft risk evaluation does not alter any existing safeguards. After considering public and SACC comments, 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.
If EPA confirms unreasonable risk, risk management under section 6(a) can address the conditions of use that drive those exposures — including consumer uses in products that are imported into the United States.
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.
Upon publication of the Federal Register notice announcing its availability, EPA will accept public comments for 60 days in the 1,2-dichloropropane TSCA docket, EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018-0428, at regulations.gov. EPA encourages comment from workers, employers, health researchers, consumers, and the public, as well as from affected facilities. EPA will carefully consider all input before finalizing the evaluation in accordance with TSCA requirements.