Perchloroethylene and Dry Cleaning: It’s Time to Move the Industry to Safer Alternatives

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ceballos, Diana M. ; Evans AE ; Fellows KM ; Janulewicz PA ; Lee EG ; Whittaker SG ; Ceballos, Diana M. ; Evans AE ; Fellows KM ; Janulewicz PA ; Lee EG ; Whittaker SG
• Description:
  Perchloroethylene (PERC) is the most common solvent used for dry cleaning in the United States. PERC is a reproductive toxicant, neurotoxicant, potential human carcinogen, and a persistent environmental pollutant. The Environmental Protection Agency is evaluating PERC under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (amended TSCA), and has mandated that PERC dry cleaning machines be removed from residential buildings. Some local and state programs are also requiring or facilitating transitions to alternative cleaning technologies. However, the potential for these alternatives to harm human health and the environment is not well-understood. This review describes the issues surrounding the use of PERC and alternative solvents for dry cleaning while highlighting the lessons learned from a local government program that transitioned PERC dry cleaners to the safest current alternative: professional wet cleaning. Implications for future public health research and policy are discussed: (1) we must move away from PERC, (2) any transition must account for the economic instability and cultural aspects of the people who work in the industry, (3) legacy contamination must be addressed even after safer alternatives are adopted, and (4) evaluations of PERC alternatives are needed to determine their implications for the long-term health and sustainability of the people who work in the industry. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Carcinogens Environmental Exposure Environmental Pollution Hazardous Substances Nervous System Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Solvents Tetrachloroethylene Urogenital System Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Dry-cleaning Chemicals Chlorinated Solvents Dry Cleaning Industry Dry Cleaning Solvents Environmental Pollution Exposure Levels Health Effects Health Hazards Human Health Neurotoxic Agents Neurotoxins PERC Perchloroethylene Professional Wet Cleaning Reproductive Hazards Risk Factors Safer Alternatives Toxins Work Environment Workers Worker Safety

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• ISSN:
  2296-2565
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article ; Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; Washington ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  RHD - Respiratory Health Division ; RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Volume:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062189
• Citation:
  Front Public Health 2021 Mar; 9:638082
• Contact Point Address:
  Stephen G. Whittaker, Hazardous Waste Management Program, King County, Seattle, WA, United States
• Email:
  steve.whittaker@kingcounty.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Tetrachloroethylene (CAS RN 127-18-4) ; Tetrachloroethylene (CAS RN 127-18-4)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Frontiers in Public Health
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bb640ba0b9edf96ba77d038ce98cc0d0def248cd14b1b5fd3d545c9b1c706b9b87b806a4d08f66a5e7390d5f0c089f6486c608ba57a2e42a8d42cb3fba569272
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/225486/cdc_225486_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 914.29 KB ]