Depot moves toward safer paint strippers
The Home Depot will remove from its shelves paint strippers that contain the chemicals methylene chloride and N-methylpyrrolidone (or NMP). The move follows similar announcements from big-box rival Lowe’s and paint giant Sherwin-Williams.
Home Depot announced its plans for a methylene chloride ban June 18. "It’s something we’ve been working on for a while," said Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes. "We’ve added several alternatives over the years to lead change across many product categories, and now feel that this is the right time to make this commitment."
Consumer advocates have described methylene chloride as deadly, and about 60 people have died from methylene chloride exposure in the last 40 years. NMP has been linked to miscarriage in pregnant women.
The move affects popular paint stripper brands Klean Strip and Jasco – both brands of Memphis, Tenn.-based W.M. Barr & Co. The warning on the container of Klean Strip (see photo above) reads: “Danger! Poison. May be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed.” It also says: “Inhalation of vapors may cause death.”
The W.M. Barr company web site contains a methylene chloride fact sheet from 2012. HBSDealer has unsuccessfully reached out to Barr for further comment.
On June 15, Sherwin-Williams became the second big retailer to announce a phase out of methylene chloride paint strippers. The company’s 4,000-plus company stores will do so by the end of 2018. It will continue to keep NMP paint strippers off its shelves.
Mike Conway, Sherwin-Williams director of corporate communications, said the company has three effective alternative strippers. These three are Smart Strip, Peel Away 1 and Liftaway graffiti remover, he said.
Home Depot became the third major retail to join in the ban, eliciting applause from the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families group. “The Home Depot’s action is the latest nail in the coffin for methylene chloride and NMP paint strippers,” said the group’s Mike Schade, in a statement.
Home Depot announced its plans for a methylene chloride ban June 18. "It’s something we’ve been working on for a while," said Home Depot spokesman Stephen Holmes. "We’ve added several alternatives over the years to lead change across many product categories, and now feel that this is the right time to make this commitment."
Consumer advocates have described methylene chloride as deadly, and about 60 people have died from methylene chloride exposure in the last 40 years. NMP has been linked to miscarriage in pregnant women.
The move affects popular paint stripper brands Klean Strip and Jasco – both brands of Memphis, Tenn.-based W.M. Barr & Co. The warning on the container of Klean Strip (see photo above) reads: “Danger! Poison. May be fatal or cause blindness if swallowed.” It also says: “Inhalation of vapors may cause death.”
The W.M. Barr company web site contains a methylene chloride fact sheet from 2012. HBSDealer has unsuccessfully reached out to Barr for further comment.
On June 15, Sherwin-Williams became the second big retailer to announce a phase out of methylene chloride paint strippers. The company’s 4,000-plus company stores will do so by the end of 2018. It will continue to keep NMP paint strippers off its shelves.
Mike Conway, Sherwin-Williams director of corporate communications, said the company has three effective alternative strippers. These three are Smart Strip, Peel Away 1 and Liftaway graffiti remover, he said.
Home Depot became the third major retail to join in the ban, eliciting applause from the Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families group. “The Home Depot’s action is the latest nail in the coffin for methylene chloride and NMP paint strippers,” said the group’s Mike Schade, in a statement.