Evaluation and Control of Perchloroethylene Exposures during Dry Cleaning

Abstract

Abstract A study was conducted at a large, commercial dry cleaner to evaluate the control of worker exposure to perchloroethylene (PERC) and provide recommendations to reduce exposure. This shop used a dry-to-dry machine that had a refrigerated condenser, which operated during the dry cycle, as the primary vapor recovery device. A small fan that was ducted to a carbon canister was the secondary vapor recovery device. When the machine door was opened, a microswitch energized the fan to draw PERC-laden air from the cylinder through activated carbon. These two controls operated independently. Three of the six employees were sampled. The machine operator, who had the highest exposures, was exposed to between 13 and 19 ppm time-weighted average (TWA) PERC, primarily from loading/unloading the dry cleaning machine. Real-time monitoring revealed that average PERC exposure while loading the machine was much higher than while unloading (846 versus 271 ppm). Real-time measurements taken near the carbon canister sho...