Blog #4

Perchlorethylene

I chose this topic because I have read in my past studies that persons who work in a dry cleaning facility are more at risk for cancers.  In this blog, I am prompted to consider a few topics for discussion.  Perchlorethylene (perc), also known as Tetrachloroethylene is a widely-used chemical to dry clean fabrics, manufacture textiles and degreasing metal mechanisms.  This topic interests me because I use my local dry cleaner weekly where there is a young mother working with her newborn infant.  After reading the EPA article, I am concerned about their health and risk exposures. The EPA has published a hazard summary article on the negative effects of perc on persons who inhale the vapors  when working in dry-cleaning. Some of the acute effects are irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes, kidney dysfunction and neurological effects such as mood and behavioral changes, impaired coordination, dizziness, headaches, sleepiness and unconsciousness.  Some of the chronic effects are: impaired cognitive and motor function.  The EPA reports that persons who have been exposed working in dry-cleaning have had numerous types of cancers including bladder, non-Hodgkins lymphoma and multiple myeloma.  The EPA has classified perc to be carcinogenic to humans.

For the most of the consumer population and for the occupational workers in dry-cleaning, it is unknown to them the hazards that lie within the working environment.  I have never heard of "wet cleaning", something I have to research and investigate.  As for making personal choices in order to reduce the use of perc, I would need to dry clean less and buy clothing that I can wash myself.