Safer Pipe and Paint Products Program (SP4)
PVC cement and paint stripping products are used by professional plumbers, painters, HVAC technicians, and electricians as well as Do-It-Your-selfers (DIYers). It is estimated that there are more than three million users of these products each year in the U.S.
However, chemicals of high concern, such as methylene chloride, tetrahydrofuran (THF), ethyl benzene, and several others, are commonly used as solvent ingredients in these products. These chemicals can cause cancer, damage the reproductive system, or impair the central nervous system. The use of these products containing these chemicals of high concern increases the risk of human exposure.
The Safer Pipe and Paint Products Program (SP4) is funded by the U.S. EPA and led by the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) program to assist retailers, manufacturers, and unions to provide safer PVC cement and paint stripping products that do not contain these chemicals of high concern. Most manufacturers of these products are located in or near Environmental Justice communities. Switching to products without THF will significantly improve the health and safety of the manufacturing workers that make these products.
SP4 will:
- Provide financial and technical support to manufacturers to reformulate their products with safer ingredients.
- Conduct ASTM testing of products to validate product performance.
- Review product ingredients for safety to ensure that chemicals of high concern are not used.
- Share product performance and product ingredient safety information with retailers, consumers, and unions to enable them to make informed product purchasing decisions.
