Is Perchloroethylene Present on Dry Cleaned Clothes?
The greatest risk of perchloroethylene would be to workers who work in a dry cleaning plant that uses this solvent, although living near a dry cleaning facility may also carry some risk, especially if the plant uses older equipment. Whether wearing dry cleaned clothing from a shop that cleans with perc is a risk is controversial. Some experts believe that dry cleaning fabric with perchloroethylene leaves residues that can be absorbed by the skin and could increase the risk of cancer with long term exposure. The amount of perchloroethylene remaining on dry cleaned clothes would vary depending upon the facility doing the dry cleaning.
