For decades, commercial dry cleaners have relied on a chemical solvent known as "perchloroethylene" or “perc” to get clothes clean. But like many "miracle" chemicals that were supposed to make our lives carefree, perc has been found to cause significant environmental and human health problems.

Perc is a chlorinated hydrocarbon chemical that creates dioxin, vinyl chloride, carbon tetrachloride and phosgene during its manufacture and breakdown processes. Human health problems associated with exposure to perc include nervous system damage, liver and kidney damage, several types of cancer and reproductive impacts (perc passes easily from the mother to the fetus).

Exposure to perc occurs through inhalation; if you can smell it, you're being exposed. Studies show that nursing mothers who are occupationally exposed or who live in apartments over dry cleaning establishments often have enough perc in their breast milk to put their infants at risk.

These risks and the ubiquitous presence of perc as a groundwater contaminant have stimulated the development of new professional cleaning processes. "Wet" cleaning and liquid carbon dioxide (CO2) are safe and effective alternatives:

•  Wet cleaning uses special detergents and washing/drying machines to reduce clothing exposure to heat and moisture. The machines cost less than perc equipment and reduce energy consumption, but additional labor may be required for finishing.

•  CO2 cleaning is the newest technology on the market. The process uses pressurized liquid carbon dioxide as a cleaning agent. CO2 machines are considerably more expensive than other types.

Note: Hydrocarbon and silcone-based cleaning technologies are still being evaluated for their possible health and environmental effects.

Resources:

The Air Quality Management District (AQMD) of California is the air pollution control agency for the four-county region around Los Angeles.  They have a financial incentive program to help dry cleaners move to safer technologies.

Many states have developed financial assistance programs for dry cleaning establishments seeking to convert to safer technologies, although there is no currently available national listing of funding sources. Check with your state environmental department for more information.