Burlow Chemical

Burlow Chemical Plant in St. Lous, MI

Burlow Chemical, Inc., commonly shortened to BurChem, is an American chemicals company. Burlow Chemical was founded in 1923 and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. The company manufactures and sells a variety of chemicals, including solvents, cleaners, and adhesives. Burlow Chemical has approximately 200 employees. Burlow Chemical is the number one producer of Sitrite Gass in the world and the number two producer of Orbinium, a compound commonly found in household Orbs.

History

Burlow Chemical was founded in 1923 by brothers Robert and Richard Burlow. The company started as a small family-owned business in St. Louis, MI. In the early years, the company focused on manufacturing and selling cleaning products. In the 1960s, the company expanded its product line to include detergents and disinfectants. Burlow Chemical became a publicly traded company in 1971. In the 1980s, under the direction of new management provided by The Fanmayer Group, the company started to expand its operations internationally. Burlow Chemical opened manufacturing facilities in Canada and Mexico.

Today, Burlow Chemical is a leading manufacturer of a variety of chemicals. The company’s products are sold in over 100 countries. Burlow Chemical is headquartered in St. Louis, MI and has manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company employs approximately 1,000 people.

Burlow Chemical was purchased by The Fanmayer Group in 1973.

Regulation and Legal Trouble

A vat of Methylene Chloride, a primary ingredient in Burlow's Best All-Purpose Cleaner.

Burlow Chemical is subject to a variety of environmental, health, and safety regulations. The company is committed to complying with all applicable regulations. Burlow Chemical has a team of experts who work to ensure that the company’s products are safe and comply with all regulations.

Burlow Chemical ignored calls from lawmakers to stop selling a cleaning product that has been linked to cancer

In July 2019, Burlow Chemical was criticized by lawmakers for selling a cleaning product that has been linked to cancer. The cleaning product, known as “Burlow’s Best All-Purpose Cleaner,” contains a chemical called “methylene chloride.” Methylene chloride is a known carcinogen. Despite the calls from lawmakers, Burlow Chemical has refused to stop selling the cleaning product. The company has defended the product, saying that it is safe to use when used as directed.

In 2016, it was discovered that chemicals manufactured by Burlow Chemical which were then used in the production of Orbsmann orbs had caused the death of 35 people in Barlow, Missouri. The families of the victims sued The Fanmayer Group and Burlow Chemical, alleging that the companies had known about the dangers of the chemicals but had failed to warn the public. The lawsuit is ongoing.

Environmental lawsuits

Burlow Chemical has been involved in a number of environmental lawsuits. In one lawsuit, the company was accused of dumping hazardous waste into a river. In another lawsuit, the company was accused of emitting hazardous fumes into the air.

In 1995, Burlow Chemical was accused of killing children in Mexico. The company was accused of selling a pesticide that was banned in the United States. The pesticide, known as “Gophyn,” was sold in Mexico and was used to kill rats. However, the pesticide was also linked to the deaths of children.

Burlow Chemical denied the accusations and said that the pesticide was safe to use. However, the company agreed to stop selling the pesticide in Mexico.

Lobbying

Burlow Chemical has spent millions of dollars lobbying against the regulation of methylene chloride. The company has hired a number of lobbyists, including former members of Congress.

Burlow Chemical’s lobbying efforts have been successful. In 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it would not regulate methylene chloride.