Methylene chloride (or dichloromethane) is a manufactured, colorless liquid with a mildly sweet smell. It is used as an industrial solvent and as a paint stripper. It can also sometimes be found in certain aerosol and pesticide products and is used in the manufacture of photographic film. 

How You Are Exposed

The most common way to be exposed to methylene chloride is by breathing contaminated air. It is also possible to inhale the vapors that are released by products containing the chemical. Exposure to high concentrations of it in this way is likely if the product is used in an area without adequate ventilation. Methylene chloride does not dissolve well in water, but it is possible to be exposed to low levels in drinking water.

How Can Methylene Chloride Affect Your Health?

Breathing in large quantities of methylene chloride can make you feel unsteady, dizzy, nauseous, as well as a tingling or numb feeling in your fingers and toes. Lower concentrations of the chemical, if inhaled, can cause a person to become less attentive and lose some of their hand-eye coordination. If methylene chloride touches your skin, burning and redness can result. The World Health Organization and the EPA have also determined methylene chloride to be a probable cancer-causing agent in humans.