news

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) issued the following statement on the announcement that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is banning the use of trichloroethylene, or TCE. Wexton submitted a public comment letter in support of the proposed rule to ban TCE last year.

“I know firsthand how Parkinson’s Disease and atypical parkinsonisms can be devastating for those diagnosed and their families. Since my PSP diagnosis last year, I’ve done all I can to use my platform to step up our work to better understand, treat, cure, and prevent these terrible diseases. I’m very pleased that today the EPA is taking action that will make Americans safer and healthier by banning the use of TCE, which has been shown to be linked to numerous health challenges, including Parkinson’s Disease. This is a significant step forward in our quest to ensure that no other family has to endure what mine and millions of others across the country have.”

A final risk determination for TCE released in 2022 details how exposure to TCE can be detrimental to human health, having been tied to various conditions and diseases including Parkinson’s Disease. One study referenced in the report showed that those exposed to TCE-contaminated water had a 70 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Wexton was diagnosed last year with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), an atypical parkinsonism.

Earlier this year, Wexton visited a Superfund cleanup site at Hidden Lane Landfill in Sterling, Virginia to hear firsthand how federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is helping remove harmful TCE chemicals in Virginia’s 10th District.

###