Hundreds of companies and workers around the world depend on paint removing chemicals to strip various coatings from desired surfaces, whether to check for cracks beneath paints or to revamp an old paint job. Sadly, a majority of these paint strippers are highly toxic and harmful to both the environment and the workers using them, as the main ingredient in them is dichloromethane, also known as methylene chloride.  

To learn more about the negative effects of dichloromethane and how to find a safer alternative for your paint and coating removal needs, read on. 

Why Is Dichloromethane Unsafe?  

Though effective as a paint stripping chemical, dichloromethane presents multiple risks to human health and the environment, including but not limited to: 

• Respiratory irritation 
• Severe eye irritation 
• Reproductive toxicity 
• Neurotoxin, meaning it can potentially damage the brain and central nervous system 
• Likely to be a carcinogen, as studies have shown high exposure levels can cause lung and liver cancer 
• Contributes to ozone depletion 

Why Should I Use Safe Strip Paint Remover Instead? 

Some may believe that eco-friendly paint removers are not as effective as traditional paint removing chemicals, but this is not the case with a product like Safe Strip, which balances the effective performance of traditional paint strippers and environmentally/worker friendly characteristics.  

Utilizing Safe Strip paint remover over other harmful paint removers provides many beneficial characteristics: 

• Biodegradable 
• Recyclable 
• Non-flammable 
• Low VOC emissions 
• No ozone-depleting components 
• Removes coatings in only one step 
• Effective on all coatings, even epoxy and polyurethane resins 
• Powerful performance, comparable to dichloromethane and MEK 
• Significantly lower Inhalation Hazard Index than dichloromethane, making it much safer for both industrial and commercial applications 
• Can be utilized in gun cleaning tanks, immersion tanks, or as a brush-on, rinse-off solvent 

With these desirable qualities, companies no longer need to choose between quality and worker safety when looking for a paint remover.  

Looking to Purchase an Eco-Friendly Coating/Paint Remover? 

If you are looking to purchase Safe Strip for your business or industrial needs, you are in the perfect place! Here at Ecolink, we provide chemicals for companies looking to create safer work environments without compromising quality.  

Click here to check out the Safe Strip product page and purchase, or reach out to specialized staff with any questions. We offer a free quote and consultation to help your company find the chemicals and quantities perfect for your needs! 

Paint and resin solvents are traditionally known for their aggressive qualities, as they need to be able to effectively strip coatings by penetrating the layers and loosening the coating’s adhesion to a surface. But this aggressiveness usually signifies that the product may not be safe for workers and individuals using them.  

For most resin and paint removers, this is the sad truth, since the majority of these products contain dichloromethane as the active ingredient. Luckily, there are safer options on the market like Safe Strip, which not only is better for the environment but also for workers’ health. 

Read on to learn more about the benefits of switching to Safe Strip. 

What Is Dichloromethane? 

Dichloromethane, or methylene chloride, is a volatile chlorinated organic solvent that is known to cause environmental damage and serious health effects. Some of these risks include the following: 

• Contribution to ozone depletion 
• Potentially a carcinogen, as high levels have been shown to cause liver and lung cancer 
• Neurotoxin can cause damage to the brain and the central nervous system 
• Can cause respiratory irritation 
• Can cause severe eye irritation 
• Readily absorbs through the skin  

Are There Any Alternatives to Toxic Paint and Resin Removers? 

Though most paint strippers include hazardous components, new products are being formulated to effectively replace them. One such product is Safe Strip, an environmentally preferred paint and resin solvent made to replace hazardous chemicals like MEK and dichloromethane.  

What Is Safe Strip?  

Other than being much safer for the environment, Safe Strip is also highly effective, cost-efficient, and creates a safer environment for workers and individuals utilizing them. The complete list of the benefits of utilizing Safe Strip over traditional paint stripping solvents is included below: 

• Effective on all coatings, including epoxy and polyurethane resins 
• Biodegradable 
• Recyclable 
• No ozone-depleting chemicals 
• Low VOC emissions 
• Non-flammable 
• One-step coating removals  
• The highly effective performance, similar to MEK or dichloromethane 
• Excellent paint gun cleaner 
• Can be used in an immersion tank, gun cleaning tank, or as a brush-on, rinse-off solvent 

Clearly, Safe Strip is the ideal eco-friendly replacement for outdated paint and resin solvents.  

Ready to Place Your Order? 

If you are looking to purchase an environmentally preferred option and create a safer workplace environment, you are in the perfect place! Click here to explore the Safe Strip product page and to purchase today, or click here to reach out to our specialized staff for answers to any questions regarding products.