Abstract
Recent data suggest a general trend in decreased occupational exposure to perchlorethylene (PCE) in the dry-cleaning sector. The aims of this study were to confirm this trend to lower exposure levels in a group of Italian dry cleaners and to evaluate the current occupational PCE exposure in these works using noninvasive biological indices. Environmental exposure was assessed by personal sampling in 60 operators working in 21 dry cleaning shops in North Italy. PCE in the exhaled alveolar air (PCEalv), urinary concentration of PCE and of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) (PCEu and TCAu respectively), were measured as biological exposure indices. Median PCE environmental concentration in the whole sample was 10.6 mg/m3 (i.e., less than the 25% of the levels measured in the same area in a previous study). All values were less than 10% of the occupational limits. PCEu measured in samples collected at the end of the work shift resulted the biological markers having the strongest correlation with environmental PCE (r = 0.81). PCEalv also resulted in a high correlation (r = 0.66), while a lower correlation was found for TCAu measured at the end shift (r = 0.32). According to our results, PCEu can be proposed as a valid, noninvasive, and easily reliable exposure index to evaluate PCE exposure at the low levels currently observed in dry cleaners, therefore representing a promising alternative to invasive blood sample collections needed to determine PCE blood concentration.
Highlights
Perchlorethylene (PCE, CAS registry 127-18-4), is a commercially relevant chlorinated hydrocarbon widely used as a solvent and as a chemical intermediate [1,2]
The results obtained showed that PCE exposure in dry cleaning shops in the Modena district, using current technology and prevention, was usually lower than 50% percent of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) limit and lower than the DFG Maximale Arbeitsplatz-Konzentration (MAK) (Table 1 and Figure 1)
Our results show occupational PCE exposure levels in dry cleaners were largely below the exposure limits and were further reduced compared to previous studies
Summary
Perchlorethylene (PCE, CAS registry 127-18-4), is a commercially relevant chlorinated hydrocarbon widely used as a solvent and as a chemical intermediate [1,2]. The use of PCE in dry cleaning was introduced during the first half of the 19th century to replace more toxic solvents, such as carbon tetrachloride, and it has quickly become the main solvent used worldwide [3]. The occupational risk related to PCE exposure in dry cleaning workers was rapidly recognized. In dry cleaners the respiratory system represents usually the main route for PCE absorption: pulmonary uptake is rapid, but complete tissue equilibrium occurs only after several hours.
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