Toxic Chemicals in Dry Cleaning
Dry cleaning is a process that uses chemical solvents to clean delicate fabrics. These chemicals can last for a long time on clothes, leading to harmful health effects for the people who come in contact by wearing them.
Ingredients of Concern
To help you navigate the chemical confusion, we’re identifying a few of the top ingredient offenders:
Tetrachloroethylene/Perchloroethylene – commonly referred to by its nickname “perc” – is the chemical most commonly used in dry cleaning. Perc is a classified toxin[1] and probable carcinogen[2]. In addition to dry cleaning, the chemical is often used for degreasing metals.
In the short term, breathing high levels of perc is linked to multiple health effects[3] including dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, lack of coordination, and irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract. Long-term exposure is linked to changes in mood, memory, attention, reaction time, and vision, and may cause cancer. [4]
N-propyl bromide - nPB (also known as 1-Bromopropane) is a common substitute for perc that does not deplete the ozone layer[5]. While it is safer than perc in that respect, nPB is still hazardous to human health. In addition to being a potent irritant and neurotoxicant[6], nPB is believed to be a human carcinogen[7].
Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane – also known as D5 or cyclopentasiloxane is a colorless, volatile, and odorless liquid that is used as a solvent in dry cleaning to give products a silky feel. It can also be found in certain skincare products as well. Research has shown that it poses a very high hazard for environmental persistence[8] due to its water resistant properties and lack of biodegradability. It has also been flagged by as a category 2 lung toxicant under conditions of repeated exposure[9].
Tips for Choosing Better Dry Cleaning
- Ask your dry cleaner which solvents they use. If they do use perc, encourage them to seek other options, and consider cleaning your clothing with a safer method instead.
- If handwashing is not an option, bring your fine fabrics to a cleaner that uses liquid carbon dioxide or the wet cleaning method to support cleaners who are moving towards safer and more sustainable alternatives.
- If you do go to a dry cleaner that uses perc, don’t leave your dry-cleaned items in the car or other enclosed spaces for long. Hang items outside your house – ideally in the garage – for at least two weeks, to ensure the toxic chemicals are not vaporizing in your home.
- If you use an “organic” cleaning service, be aware that there is no standard for what it means to be an “organic” cleaner. Ask them what the standard means to them and what detergents or solvents they use.
- Be wary of “green” dry cleaners. Most aren’t green at all and may use ingredients that are harmful to humans and the planet.
References
[1] Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene). (2016). EPA. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/tetrachloroethylene.pdf
[2] Faraday, M. (n.d.). TETRACHLOROETHYLENE. IARC Monographs. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono106-002.pdf
[3] Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene). (2016). EPA. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/tetrachloroethylene.pdf
[4] Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene). (2016). EPA. Retrieved July 15, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/tetrachloroethylene.pdf
[5] Ceballos DM, Fellows KM, Evans AE, Janulewicz PA, Lee EG and Whittaker SG (2021) Perchloroethylene and Dry Cleaning: It's Time to Move the Industry to Safer Alternatives. Front. Public Health 9:638082. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.638082
[6] Ceballos DM, Fellows KM, Evans AE, Janulewicz PA, Lee EG and Whittaker SG (2021) Perchloroethylene and Dry Cleaning: It's Time to Move the Industry to Safer Alternatives. Front. Public Health 9:638082. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.638082
[7] Ceballos DM, Fellows KM, Evans AE, Janulewicz PA, Lee EG and Whittaker SG (2021) Perchloroethylene and Dry Cleaning: It's Time to Move the Industry to Safer Alternatives. Front. Public Health 9:638082. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.638082
[8] Ceballos DM, Fellows KM, Evans AE, Janulewicz PA, Lee EG and Whittaker SG (2021) Perchloroethylene and Dry Cleaning: It's Time to Move the Industry to Safer Alternatives. Front. Public Health 9:638082. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.638082
[9] U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Database. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/decamethylcyclopentasiloxane#section=GHS-Classification
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