EPA Rethinks Carbon Tetrachloride Rules: Toxic Chemical Safety Up for Debate
Published Date: 10/9/2025
Notice
Summary
The EPA is asking for your thoughts on its rules about carbon tetrachloride (CTC), a chemical that can be harmful at work. They made new rules in late 2024 to keep people safe but now need to rethink some parts after legal challenges. If you’re involved in industries using CTC, this could affect how you work and what safety steps you must follow—so get your comments in by November 10, 2025!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Workplace exposure limit set at 0.03 ppm
If you work with carbon tetrachloride (CTC) or run a workplace that does, the CTC final rule set an Existing Chemical Exposure Limit (ECEL) of 0.03 parts per million (ppm) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) under the Workplace Chemical Protection Program (see 40 CFR 751.703 and 751.707(b)). EPA is asking for comment on the feasibility of exposure monitoring and whether a different exposure limit would be more appropriate; submit comments by November 10, 2025.
Prohibitions on certain CTC uses may affect businesses
The December 18, 2024 CTC final rule required various workplace exposure controls and prohibited certain industrial and commercial uses of carbon tetrachloride; those prohibitions and requirements currently affect manufacturers, processors, distributors, users, and disposers of CTC. EPA announced on September 12, 2025 that it will reconsider the rule and is soliciting public comment to inform any amendments; comments are due November 10, 2025.
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