Tetrachloroethylene emissions and exposure in dry cleaning

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) emissions and the exposure of workers in six commercial and three industrial dry-cleaning establishments that use dry-to-dry machines were determined. The personal samples and area samples [8-hr time-weighted average (TWA) and short-term exposure] were collected with charcoal tubes and passive monitors. The temporal variation of PCE concentration in the workplace air was monitored using a Fourier transform infrared analyzer (FTIR). The PCE emission rates were determined by multiplying the average PCE concentration in the room and the total airflow rate in the room. The PCE emissions were related to the cleaning rate in units of kg/hr. The operators' mean TWA exposure in commercial shops and industrial establishments was 28 (4.1 ppm) and 32 mg/m3 (4.6 ppm), and the pressers' exposure was 3.4 (0.5 ppm) and 7.7 mg/m3 (1.1 ppm), respectively. The customer service personnel had the lowest TWA exposure with a mean value of 0.8 mg/m3 (0.1 ppm). The highest peak concentration (2300 mg/m3; 334 ppm) was observed during cleaning of the lint and button trap, during which operation respirators were used. The PCE emission rates ranged from 4 to 118 g/hr corresponding to emission factors (mass of solvent evaporated per mass of cleaned cloths) of 0.3-3.6 g/kg. The workers' exposure to PCE was below the occupational limit values in the United States [according to the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)] and in Finland. The outdoor PCE emissions were clearly below the limit values given in the European Union volatile organic compound (VOC) directive requirements.