Impact Assessment of Potential Restrictions on the Marketing and Use of Dichloromethane in Paint Strippers Final Report prepared for European Commission Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry RPA April 2007 DISCLAIMER While RPA considers that the information and opinions given in this report are sound, the report is based on assumptions and information that are subject to uncertainties. Due to such uncertainties and because events may not occur as expected, there is a possibility that the results of the assessment presented in this report will be different from situations which occur in the future. As a consequence, RPA will not assume any liability for any loss or damage arising out of the provision of the report. Impact Assessment of Potential Restrictions on the Marketing and Use of Dichloromethane in Paint Strippers Final Report – April 2007 prepared for European Commission Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry by Risk & Policy Analysts Limited, Farthing Green House, 1 Beccles Road, Loddon, Norfolk, NR14 6LT, UK Tel: +44 1508 528465 Fax: +44 1508 520758 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rpaltd.co.uk RPA REPORT – ASSURED QUALITY Project: Ref/Title J549/DCM In accordance with the Project Specifications and associated Approach: discussions with the Client – Incorporates comments from the Commission on the previous version of 22 February 2007 Report Status: Final Report Prepared by: Panos Zarogiannis, Project Manager Tobe A. Nwaogu, Consultant Nigel Tuffnell, Consultant Beatriz Lucas, Researcher Approved for issue by: Meg Postle, Director Date: 26 April 2007 If printed by RPA, this report is published on chlorine free, 100% recycled paper. Risk & Policy Analysts TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS………….…………………………..v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY…………………..………….…………………………..ix 1. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................1 1.1 Introduction to Dichloromethane (DCM)..............................................................1 1.2 Uses and Applications of DCM...............................................................................3 1.3 Use of DCM in Paint Stripping...............................................................................5 1.4 Objectives of the Study and Organisation of this Report ....................................6 2. MARKETS FOR DCM AND DCM-BASED PAINT STRIPPERS...................9 2.1 Manufacture and Supply of DCM in Europe........................................................9 2.2 Manufacture of DCM-based Paint Strippers in Europe....................................14 2.3 Use of DCM-based Paint Strippers in Europe ....................................................22 3. HAZARDS AND RISKS FROM DCM-BASED PAINT STRIPPERS...............37 3.1 Hazards from the Use of DCM-based Paint Strippers.......................................37 3.2 Assessment of Risks from DCM in Paint Strippers............................................41 3.3 Morbidity and Mortality Data Associated with DCM-based Paint Strippers .41 4. EXISTING CONTROLS ON USE AND EXPOSURE TO DCM.....................47 4.1 Current EU-wide Legislation - Protection of Workers ......................................47 4.2 Current EU-wide Legislation – Protection of Workers and Consumers..........48 4.3 Current EU-wide Legislation – Protection of the Environment........................50 4.4 National Controls on Use and Exposure to DCM...............................................53 4.5 Overview of National Occupational Exposure Limits........................................55 4.6 Controls of Product Specification – Use of Vapour Retardants........................55 4.7 Current Practices on Engineering Controls........................................................59 4.8 Use of Respiratory Protection Equipment...........................................................63 4.9 Use of Glove Protection .........................................................................................71 4.10 Effectiveness of Existing Risk Reduction Measures ...........................................83 5. ALTERNATIVE SUBSTANCES AND TECHNIQUES TO DCM-BASED PAINT STRIPPING .............................................................................................87 5.1 Introduction to the Assessment of Alternatives ..................................................87 5.2 Physical/Mechanical Stripping .............................................................................88 5.3 Pyrolytic/Thermal Stripping Methods.................................................................92 5.4 Chemical Stripping ................................................................................................95 5.5 Information Obtained from Consultation ...........................................................97 5.6 N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) .........................................................................113 5.7 Dibasic Esters .......................................................................................................117 - i - Contents 5.8 Benzyl Alcohol......................................................................................................124 5.9 Dimethyl Sulphoxide (DMSO)............................................................................126 5.10 1,3-Dioxolane ........................................................................................................130 5.11 Alkalis (Sodium Hydroxide) ...............................................................................133 5.12 Other Alternatives ...............................................................................................135 5.13 Evidence on the Suitability of Alternatives .......................................................136 5.14 Summary and Conclusions .................................................................................165 6. POSSIBLE FURTHER RISK REDUCTION MEASURES ...........................169 6.1 Rationale for Introduction of Further Risk Reduction Measures ..................169 6.2 The Range of Possible Risk Reduction Measures.............................................169 6.3 Identification of Possible Risk Reduction Measures ........................................171 7. ASSESSMENT OF POSSIBLE RISK REDUCTION MEASURES.................179 7.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................179 7.2 The ‘Do Nothing’ Option ....................................................................................179 7.3 Effectiveness of Possible Risk Reduction Measures .........................................179 7.4 Practicality of Risk Reduction Measures...........................................................190 7.5 Monitorability of Possible Risk Reduction Measures ......................................199 7.6 Conclusions...........................................................................................................203 8. ECONOMIC IMPACT OF POTENTIAL RESTRICTIONS...........................207 8.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................207 8.2 Impact of Potential Restrictions on Manufacturers of DCM ..........................207 8.3 Impact of Potential Restrictions on Manufacturers of DCM-based Paint Strippers ...............................................................................................................211 8.4 Impacts on Companies involved in Industrial Uses of DCM-based Paint Strippers ...............................................................................................................219 8.5 Impacts to Companies involved in Professional Uses of DCM-based on Paint Strippers ...............................................................................................................225 8.6 Impact of Restriction on Consumer Uses of DCM-based Paint Strippers .....229 8.7 Impacts and Costs on Other Stakeholders ........................................................231 8.8 Summary of Costs and Benefits to Industry .....................................................235 9. RECOMMENDED RISK REDUCTION STRATEGY..................................241 9.1 Recommended Risk Reduction Measure...........................................................241 9.2 Summary Justification for Recommended Risk Reduction Measures ...........242 10. REFERENCES .......................................................................................247 - ii - Risk & Policy Analysts ANNEX A: PROJECT SPECIFICATION ANNEX B: INFORMATION FROM MEMBER STATES ON NATIONAL MARKETS FOR DCM, DCM-BASED PAINT STRIPPERS AND DCM-FREE PAINT STRIPPING FORMULATIONS AND RELEVANT REGULATIONS ANNEX C: SUMMARY OF THE AVAILABLE STUDIES ON DICHLOROMETHANE CONDUCTED FOR THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION ANNEX D: DATA ON MEASURED EXPOSURE LEVELS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF VAPOUR RETARDANTS ON EXPOSURE ANNEX E: AVAILABLE DATA ON ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES INVOLVING THE USE OF DCM-BASED PAINT STRIPPERS AND ALTERNATIVE PAINT STRIPPERS ANNEX F: INFORMATION ON VOLATILE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ANNEX G: CONSULTATION OVERVIEW - iii - Contents - iv - Risk & Policy Analysts LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Acronym Full term ACGIH American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists AHP Analytic Hierarchy Process AT Austria AUTH Competent Authorities (in European countries) BAT Bygge-, Anlægs- og Trækartellet BE Belgium BG Bulgaria Carc. Cat. Carcinogen Category CAPTV (French) Centre of Anti-poison and Toxicovigilance CAS Chemical