It’s time to get toxic chemicals out of dry cleaning
When perchloroethylene (PERC) was
introduced to the dry cleaning industry in the 1930s, it must have seemed like
a miracle solvent.
It cleans clothes well and – most importantly – it is
nonflammable. This is in contrast to the previous solvents, like Stoddard
solvent, gasoline, turpentine, and even benzene.
Because the use of these flammable solvents resulted in catastrophic fires and explosions, government regulations forced dry cleaners to move out of highly populated areas. With the advent of PERC, dry cleaners could move back to population centers, where the customers were.
Because the use of these flammable solvents resulted in catastrophic fires and explosions, government regulations forced dry cleaners to move out of highly populated areas. With the advent of PERC, dry cleaners could move back to population centers, where the customers were.
The dry cleaning industry provided a unique opportunity for
a whole generation of immigrants. A 2011 survey indicated that in King County,
Washington, for instance, more than 80% of dry cleaning business owners
emigrated from South Korea.
For many of these immigrants, dry cleaning was the ideal business. They readily grasped the complexity of the dry cleaning process and were able to build successful businesses through hard work.
For many of these immigrants, dry cleaning was the ideal business. They readily grasped the complexity of the dry cleaning process and were able to build successful businesses through hard work.
Unfortunately, very few are aware of the health risks
associated with a lifetime of using a hazardous chlorinated solvent.
Old machines, hazardous exposures
The earliest dry cleaning technology used "transfer
machines," where fabrics washed in PERC were manually transferred to
dryers while still wet.
The exposures to PERC were massive, and several epidemiological studies suggest excess risk for cancer and adverse effects on the nervous system, kidneys, liver, immune system and the hematologic (blood) system.
The exposures to PERC were massive, and several epidemiological studies suggest excess risk for cancer and adverse effects on the nervous system, kidneys, liver, immune system and the hematologic (blood) system.
Although transfer machines are now banned in the United States
and replaced with enclosed "dry-to-dry" machines, we still see PERC
exposures.
In King County, most PERC machines are more than 20 years old, which is past their operational lifespan of 15 years. These old machines are leaking. We have measured hundreds of parts per million of PERC in the ambient air of dry cleaners.
In King County, most PERC machines are more than 20 years old, which is past their operational lifespan of 15 years. These old machines are leaking. We have measured hundreds of parts per million of PERC in the ambient air of dry cleaners.
Workers are also exposed to PERC when they remove fabrics
from the machine, handle their hazardous waste, and deal with accidental
spills.
Here in King County, the Local Hazardous Waste Management
Program has provided technical assistance to the dry cleaning community for
more than 20 years.
When we considered the legacy of PERC's effects on health
and the environment, we realized that we needed to get PERC out of dry
cleaning.
There are almost 200 sites in King County contaminated with
PERC. In addition, some of our local communities draw their drinking water from
shallow aquifers, which contain detectable levels of PERC.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently evaluating PERC for possible restriction, so we recognized an opportunity to help dry cleaners switch to safer alternatives – and avoid "regrettable substitutes" – ahead of potential federal regulations.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently evaluating PERC for possible restriction, so we recognized an opportunity to help dry cleaners switch to safer alternatives – and avoid "regrettable substitutes" – ahead of potential federal regulations.
Making the switch
Several jurisdictions have already taken steps to remove
PERC dry cleaning machines from circulation. The California Air Resources Board
(CARB) passed a regulation in 2007 phasing-out PERC dry cleaning by 2023. The
Cities of Philadelphia and Minneapolis have also passed phase-outs.
Other jurisdictions have given tech and financial support to
help dry cleaners switch to safer alternatives, including Massachusetts (via
the Toxics Use Reduction Institute), New York State, the South Coast Air
Quality Management District, and the City of Minneapolis.
We engaged our dry cleaning community to find out what it
would take to help them switch. We worked with leaders in the Korean-American
community to host meetings of the local dry cleaning association, facilitated
focus groups, and conducted numerous interviews with dry cleaners – all in
Korean.
We learned that cost was the single greatest barrier to replacing old PERC machines with safer technology.
We learned that cost was the single greatest barrier to replacing old PERC machines with safer technology.
In 2018, we began offering $20,000 equipment reimbursement
grants to help dry cleaners replace their PERC machines with professional wet
cleaning, which relies on water and detergent, rather than an organic solvent.
The latest generation of professional wet cleaning is an
integrated system, comprised of a programmable washer, a moisture-sensing
dryer, and specialized detergents and conditioners that allow any "dry
clean only" fabric to be washed in water.
So far, we have provided grants to seven dry cleaners — and
all seven are no longer inhaling PERC. Some workers are reporting significant
improvements in their health. Shop owners are also saving money because they no
longer generate hazardous waste and their utility bills are much lower.
Our goal is to make King County PERC-free by 2025 by
offering 10 grants of $20,000 per year.
Providing grants to small businesses is a positive step in
helping eliminate dangerous chemical exposures that impact the health and
environment in our communities.
Ashley Pedersen and Steve
Whittaker are with the Local Hazardous Waste
Management Program in King County, Washington, where they manage the county's financial incentive
program to transition PERC dry cleaners to safer alternatives.
LHWMP is a regional
collaboration between Public Health - Seattle & King County, King County
Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Seattle Public Utilities, and
suburban cities in King County.