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Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) sent a public comment letter supporting a proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule to regulate Trichloroethylene (TCE) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to protect families from the dangerous health and environmental impacts of the chemical. 

A final risk determination for TCE released last year details how exposure to TCE can be detrimental to human health, having been tied to various conditions and diseases including Parkinson’s Disease. One study referenced in the report showed that those exposed to TCE-contaminated water had a 70 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Wexton was diagnosed this summer with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), an atypical Parkinsonism.

“As you may know, earlier this year I was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), an atypical parkinsonism that is believed to have ties to environmental toxins such as TCE. I have, therefore, seen firsthand how these diseases can be devastating for individuals, their families, and the communities around them. For thousands of families across the country, including mine, this rule will mark a significant step towards ensuring no one else’s family suffers the way ours have,” wrote Wexton.

In addition to exposure via water, TCE can come in contact with the public through water contamination, inhalation, and direct skin exposure. For this reason, activities ranging from consuming products cleaned with TCE-contaminated water to breathing air in the presence of TCE can be hazardous to public health.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below:

The Honorable Michael S. Regan
Administrator
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20460

RE: Docket No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0642

Dear Administrator Regan:

I write today to applaud the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule on Trichloroethylene (TCE) regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (88 Federal Register 74712). This rule is a critical step to protect families across the country from exposure to toxic chemicals and the subsequent devastating environmental and health impacts.

As referenced in the EPA’s final risk determination for TCE released in January 2023, numerous studies have demonstrated that both inhalation and dermal exposure to TCE can be detrimental to human health. Specifically, exposure has been tied to numerous diseases and conditions, including certain types of cancer and Parkinson’s disease, and more broadly adverse effects, such as developmental, reproductive, liver, and kidney toxicity as well as immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity. For example, one particularly concerning study found that veterans exposed to water at Camp Lejeune contaminated with TCE had a 70 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than veterans who were not similarly exposed.

These toxic chemicals, which can be found in the air, water, and soil, can persist in the environment for a significant period of time and easily accumulate in the groundwater. The general public, therefore, can be exposed to TCE in numerous ways, ranging from drinking contaminated water to consuming produce cleaned with this water to simply breathing the air around them. This risk is even greater for those with professions with higher exposure to TCE, such as the 300,000 workers exposed in dry cleaning facilities that use TCE to remove spots from clothing.

As you may know, earlier this year I was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), an atypical parkinsonism that is believed to have ties to environmental toxins such as TCE. I have, therefore, seen firsthand how these diseases can be devastating for individuals, their families, and the communities around them. For thousands of families across the country, including mine, this rule will mark a significant step towards ensuring no one else’s family suffers the way ours have.

I urge you to swiftly finalize and implement this proposed rule. Thank you for your time and attention to this important issue. I look forward to continuing to work with you to protect the health of communities across the United States.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Wexton
Member of Congress

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