CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN DRY CLEANERS

Perchloroethylene Exposure in Workers

By: Lynn A. Henderson, BSN University of South Florida

U.S. COMMERCIAL DRY CLEANING INDUSTRY

Consists of approximately 36,000 shops Most shops are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees Approximately 85% of shops in the U.S. use

Perchloroethylene (PCE; PERC) as

primary solvent
Approximately of dry cleaning

employees are women

(McKernan, L. et al., 2009; NIOSH, n.d.; Tucker, J. et al., 2011)

PRIMARY DRY CLEANING SOLVENT:

PERCHLOROETHYLENE (PCE; PERC)
Also known as tetrachloroethylene or

tetrachlorethene

Chlorinated Solvent, Colorless, non-

flammable liquid with sweet odor

Potential Human Carcinogen

(Ma, J. et al., 2009; OSHA, n.d.)

PERCHLOROETHYLENE EXPOSURE
Over 1.5 million workers

exposed to perchloroethylene a year

(Owner of ABC Cleaners, www.turi.org, n.d.)

(www.ididnotknowthatyesterday.blogspot.com, n.d.)

(Tucker, J. et al., 2011)

(www.dispatch.com, n.d.)

DIRECT & INDIRECT EXPOSURES

Respiratory

Direct skin contact

Accidental Spills

Vapors/Fumes

Evaporative Emissions
(Tanios, M. et al., 2004)

Daily tasks

EXPOSURE EFFECTS:
Physiological:

CNS Depression Liver and Kidney Damage Impaired Memory; Confusion Dizziness; Vertigo; Headache ; Drowsiness

Increased Risk of Cancers:

Eye, Nose, and Throat Irritation

Scleroderma Dermatitis

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
Reproductive Failure Lung Disease

Kidney Liver Biliary Brain Oral Cavity Larynx Esophagus

(Ma, J. et al., 2009; OSHA, n.d.; Tanios, M. et al., 2004; Tucker, J. et al., 2011; Vaughan, T. et al., 1997)

A case of hypersensity pneumonitis (HP) in a 42 yr old female dry cleaner worker following occupational

exposure to
perchloroethylene

(PCE).
(Tanios, M. et al., 2004)

CT of chest showing bilateral parenchymal nodules with ground glass opacities

(bestdrycleanersny.com)

No specific OSHA standard for dry cleaners

25 states have OSHA-approved State Plans, identical to Federal OSHA standards PERC exposures addressed in specific general industry standards: General Industry Standard; 29 CFR 1910:
Toxic and hazardous substances; 1910.1000, Air contaminants; Limits for air contaminants (Contains an entry for perchloroethylene) Bloodborne Pathogen Standard; 29 CFR 1910.1030 (McKernan, L. et al., 2008; OSHA, n.d.)

Exposure Limits
OSHA 8 hr TWA PEL : 100ppm ACGIH 8 hr TLV : 26ppm

ENGINEERING AND WORK PRACTICE CONTROLS (1ST LINE OF DEFENSE)

Elimination of Hazardous Solvent Substitution

General Ventilation
Local exhaust ventilation

Accessible eye wash station for Spotting treatment areas

Limiting Employee
exposure

(OSHA, n.d.)

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)

Chemical splash goggles

Appropriate Respirator Use:

Chemical/solvent resistant gloves (e.g. Viton fluoroelastomer, polyvinyl alcohol, or unsupported nitrile)

(OSHA, n.d.)

PCE Exposure Assessment Engineering controls Work Practice Controls OSHA Standard Compliance

OHN CONSIDERATIONS:
Optimal PPE Equipment Employee Exposure Treatment & Management

The greatest emphasis has been placed on worker exposure to perchloroethylene.

(NIOSH, n.d.; OSHA, n.d.)
Information concerning these studies is can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/dryclean/

NIOSH has conducted numerous studies on the commercial drycleaning industry evaluating various health and safety hazards.

References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). (n.d.). Drycleaning. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/dryclean/ Ma, J., Lessner, L., Schreiber, J., Carpenter, D. (2009). Association between residential proximity to PERC dry cleaning establishments and kidney cancer in New York City. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 1-7. doi: 10.1155/2009/183920 McKernan, L., Ruder, A., Peterson, M., Hein, M., Forrester, C., Sanderson, W., Ashley, D., Butler, M. (2008). Biological exposure assessment to tetrachloroethylene for workers in the dry cleaning industry. BioMed Central, 7(12), 1-10. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-7-12 Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). (n.d.) Dry Cleaning. Retrieved from https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/drycleaning/index.html Tanios, M., Gamal, H., Rosenberg, B., Hassoun, P. (2004). Can we still miss tetrachloroethyleneinduced lung disease? The emperor returns in new clothes. Respiration, (71), 642-645. doi: 10.1159/000081768 Tucker, J., Sorensen, K., Ruder, A., McKernan, L., Forrester, C., Butler, M. (2011). Cytogenic analysis of an exposed-referent study: Perchloroethylene-exposed dry cleaners compared to unexposed laundry workers. Environmental Health, 10(16), 1-6. Retrieved from http://www.ehjournal.net/content/10/1/16 Vaughan, T., Stewart, P., Davis, S., Thomas, D. (1997). Work in dry cleaning and the incidence of cancer of the oral cavity, larynx, and oesophagus. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, (54), 692-695. doi:10.1136/oem.54.9.692