How Safe is Dry Cleaning?

The primary ‘solvent’ used by 85% of drycleaners in the United States is a chemical called perchloroethylene, or perc in short, and there have been a large number of studies conducted as to the adverse affects of this solvent can have on people wearing cloths that have been cleaned with it, and the affects it can have on the workers exposed to it, and the environment.

Trudy Adamson, a local insurance broker who specializes in insurance coverage for dry cleaning facilities told CrownHeights.info that most insurance companies offer special coverage for spills, leaks and environment pollution, a fact that caused us to take a deeper look into the real affects of dry cleaning.

First, dry cleaning isn’t really dry, it involves the use of liquid chemicals called solvents that remove most stains from a variety of fabrics. Most drycleaners use perc as their primary solvent. Because the clothes are cleaned in a liquid solution that is mostly perc or some other solvent, with very little water if any, the term “drycleaning” is used to describe the process. There are some differences in the way drycleaners process clothes, but here is how it typically works:

An average load of clothing in a cycle of 8 minutes generates up to 200 gallons of what the Environmental Protection Agency has classified as environmentally hazardous material.

One local dry cleaners, Mr. Clean, a CrownHeights.info advertiser touts the fact that it does not use perc onlt that it uses ‘organic’ and ‘green’ cleaning solvents, which they use on customers garments. Shloimie Klein of Mr. Clean said “it comes as cost to us, but it’s worth it [to you], and the prices are the same” adding that in Park Slope typical cost of cleaning a shirt using the same methods they use can cost as much as $4 more.

A website dedicated to environmental and health safety has published the following Frequently Asked Questions:

What is perc?

Perchloroethylene, or perc, is the dominant chemical solvent used in drycleaning. It is is a clear, colorless liquid that has a sharp, sweet odor and evaporates quickly. It is an effective cleaning solvent and is used by most professional drycleaners because it removes stains and dirt from all common types of fabrics. Perc usually does not cause clothes to shrink, nor dyes to bleed. Perc is not flammable, unlike solvents commonly used to clean clothes in the 1930’s and ‘40’s. Since perc can be reused, it is a cost-effective and efficient solvent for cleaning clothes. Perc is also a toxic chemical with both human health and environmental concerns.

What are the human health concerns associated with perc?

The extent of any health effects from perc exposure depends on the amount of perc and how long the exposure lasts. People exposed to high levels of perc, even for brief periods, may experience serious symptoms. Those include dizziness, fatigue, headaches, confusion, nausea, and skin, lung, eye and mucous membrane irritation. Repeated exposure to high levels can also irritate the skin, eyes, nose and mouth, and can cause liver damage and respiratory failure. Perc might cause effects at lower levels as well.

Studies in laboratory animals indicate that exposures to high levels of perc can produce effects on the developing fetus that include altered growth, birth defects, and death. While there have been studies of people who are exposed to high levels of perc, the studies are limited and inconclusive. Scientists have not yet determined whether perc exposures can cause such adverse effects in pregnant women as increased incidence of miscarriage or reproductive effects, affect women’s fertility, or affect children born to parents exposed to high levels of perc.

Can perc cause cancer?

The cancer-causing potential of perc has been extensively investigated. In laboratory studies, perc has been shown to cause cancer in rats and mice when they swallow or inhale it. There is also evidence, from several studies of workers in the laundry and drycleaning industry, suggesting a causal association between perc exposure and elevated risks of certain types of cancer. As with all health effects, the potential for an increased risk of cancer depends on several factors including how much perc exposure there is, how often the exposure occurs, and how long it lasts. Also important is the way the exposure occurs, as well as the individual’s overall state of health, age, lifestyle, and family traits.

In 1995, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), convened a panel of internationally regarded experts which concluded that perc is “probably carcinogenic to humans,” based on limited evidence of carcinogenicity in humans and sufficient evidence in animals.

To further understand risks associated with the use of perc, the Agency will be conducting a comprehensive, in-depth health effects assessment of perc through the Agency’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) process. IRIS is EPA’s electronic on-line database of summary health risk assessment and regulatory information on specific chemicals, and was developed to provide consistent risk information for EPA decisions. The comprehensive health effects assessment will be peer reviewed, and the data and conclusions will be available in 1999 or 2000.

Am I exposed to perc and do I need to worry about it?

We all may be exposed to perc because it is found in the air and drinking water nationwide. Fortunately, the amounts are usually small enough that they are not hazardous to the average person’s health. If you work in or live next to a drycleaning facility, you might be exposed to higher levels and may have cause for concern, especially if they are using older equipment that doe snot have good emission control and capture devices.

Do I need to worry about wearing drycleaned clothes?

As a consumer of drycleaning services, you may be exposed to levels of perc that are slightly higher than what is normally found in the outdoor air; however, these amounts are not expected to be hazardous to the average person’s health. Therefore, it is very unlikely that people will get cancer from having their clothes drycleaned. As with all health effects, the potential for an increased risk of cancer depends on several factors including how much perc exposure there is, how often the exposure occurs, and how long it lasts. Also important is the way the exposure occurs, as well as the individual’s overall state of health, age, lifestyle, and family traits.

Professional cleaners remove perc from drycleaned clothes as part of the overall cleaning process. You cannot tell by odor alone whether all the perc has been removed from your clothes. If you think all of the solvent was not removed, or if you’re newly drycleaned clothes smell like solvent, ask your cleaner to re-process your order or take them to another cleaner for re-cleaning.

What about people who live or work in the same building as a drycleaner?

“Co-located” is a term used to describe cleaners that clean clothes on premises and are located in buildings that also house other businesses and/or residences. People who live or work in the same building as a co-located drycleaner can have greater than average exposures to perc. This is because perc vapors can pass through floor, ceiling, and wall materials of the drycleaning shop and into adjacent building space. Perc can also travel outside and re-enter nearby building spaces through holes, vents, and other means. A drycleaner could contaminate the air in neighboring apartments or offices if the cleaner has old equipment, does not properly maintain equipment, or does not follow proper safety procedures.

High perc levels in residences would be of special concern for irritation and other health effects, including a potential for cancer for occupants who are at home a lot and might be exposed to perc for extended periods of time, such as the elderly, young children, or pregnant women. Scientists do not know if perc exposures cause developmental changes in children.