The EPA has banned 2 cancer-causing chemicals used in dry cleaning and degreasing. What that means for your health. [View all]

Two carcinogenic chemicals used in cleaning products and other common household goods have been banned in the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced in a Dec. 9 press release. The chemicals — trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE or perc) — can cause multiple kinds of cancers and damage to the kidney, liver and immune and nervous systems at high exposure levels. The EPA’s bans against the substances have been a long time coming, but industry groups have fought hard against legislation.

Here’s what to know about the newly banned chemicals and steps you can take to keep yourself and your family safe.

What is TCE?

TCE is a solvent used in degreasing products, stain removers, paint strippers, cleaning wipes, carpet cleaners and spray adhesives, and it evaporates quickly to become an air pollutant. It was once the more common solvent used in dry cleaning, Dr. Samuel Goldman, a University of California, San Francisco, professor who studies environmental risk factors for Parkinson's disease, tells Yahoo Life, but was eventually replaced in most businesses by perc. TCE poses risks to people who work in industries where these products are heavily used but also threatens the health of those who live near shops and factories using TCE. That’s because some TCE can seep into the soil and groundwater, where it can remain for months or even years. As a result, one study estimated that between 9% and 34% of U.S. water is contaminated with TCE. After being dumped, TCE can also form toxic "plumes" — roving concentrations of contaminants that move through soil or groundwater — which are off-gassed, or released, into homes or businesses. Goldman's work has linked these plumes to increased risks of Parkinson's disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), exposure to TCE at high levels can cause:

Kidney cancer

Increased risks of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Increased risks of liver cancer

Nerve damage

Heartbeat changes

Skin rashes

Autoimmune disease

Reproductive issues

Lower levels of exposure can cause:

Headache

Dizziness

https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/the-epa-has-banned-2-cancer-causing-chemicals-used-in-dry-cleaning-and-degreasing-what-that-means-for-your-health-180722291.html