Bill to Ban Carcinogenic Solvent Heads to New York Governor

Legislation in New York state that would ban the cancer-causing solvent trichloroethylene is headed to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) for his consideration.

The state Legislature late Thursday approved the measure (S.6829B/A.8829A), which would prohibit the use of trichloroethylene as a vapor degreaser, as a refrigerant, as an intermediate to produce other chemicals, and as an extraction solvent in any other manufacturing or cleaning process.

Trichloroethylene, known as TCE, is primarily used to make refrigerants and to clean grime off of equipment. It’s been a major contributor to a massive plume of polluted groundwater at two Long Island Superfund ...