Methylene chloride is a chemical used in various industrial processes, including paint stripping and bathtub refinishing. It is known to cause serious health issues such as liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, and neurotoxicity. The EPA has recently imposed stricter limits on worker exposure to this chemical. Methylene chloride is also sometimes used in the process of decaffeinating coffee. The process involves soaking coffee beans in hot water to extract caffeine, then using methylene chloride to bond with the caffeine. This method is believed to maintain coffee flavor better than others. However, the presence of methylene chloride in decaf coffee has raised health concerns, especially for pregnant women and those with health issues. Some activist groups are calling for a ban on its use in food products. Current FDA regulations allow 10 parts per million of residual methylene chloride in decaf coffee, but actual practice results in levels much lower than this limit.