US EPA to regulate dry cleaning solvent

 The use of perchloroethylene as a dry-cleaning solvent poses health risks to workers and consumers, the EPA says.

Nearly all uses of perchloroethylene evaluated by the US Environmental Protection Agency present unreasonable risks to workers and consumers, the agency says in a final assessment released Dec. 14. Within the next year, the agency plans to propose regulations to reduce those risks.

Perchloroethylene, also known as perc, is acutely neurotoxic. Chronic exposure to the chemical increases the risk of liver cancer and neurological, kidney, liver, and immunological effects, the EPA says.

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