[Tetrachloroethylene in drycleaning shops]

Tetrachloroethylene -- also known as Perchloroethylene, PCE and perc -- is a chlorinated hydrocarbon with the formula C2 Cl4, which is widely used as a degreasing solvent in drycleaning. This resulted in environmental pollution in apartments and groceries adjacent to drycleaners. The highest exposure levels were measured in the eighties of the last century. One case from Goslar is presented with human biomonitoring and remedial actions. The second German Federal Immission Control Ordinance (2. BImSchV) on limitation of emission of volatile halogenated hydrocarbons from 1990 resulted in new methods of drycleaning and a substantial elimination of environmental and health problems.