US environmental regulators delay a ban on a toxic chemical for 90 days

The US environmental regulators are postponing parts of a new rule about trichloroethylene, a toxic chemical. This means companies can continue using the chemical under existing exemptions for another three months.

The US environmental regulators had planned to tighten rules on trichloroethylene, a chemical linked to cancer and other health problems. This delay means that some uses of the chemical, which were supposed to face new restrictions, will continue without them for a little longer. It gives companies more time to use the chemical under the old, less strict rules.