MEASUREMENT OF PERCHLOROETHYLENE INDOOR AIR LEVELS CAUSED BY FUGITIVEEMISSIONS FROM UNVENTED DRY-TO-DRY DRY-CLEANING UNITS

The large emissions of perchloroethylene (PERC), a potential carcinoge n, from dry cleaning establishments led the fabric-care industry to re design dry cleaning machines. State-of-the-art facilities now employ n onvented self-contained machines that do not emit vapors directly to t he outside air. However, fugitive emissions in indoor environments con tinue to be emitted from these new machines. An indoor air quality stu dy was conducted in six Chicago-area dry cleaning establishments that use nonvented self-contained machines. PERC concentrations were invest igated by collecting 46 air samples with 150-mg charcoal tubes and sub sequently conducting gas chromatograph analysis. Indoor PERC concentra tions ranged from 1.7 to 52.3 ppm. A relationship was developed betwee n the weight of clothes cleaned and the emission rate of each facility . This relationship may be used to estimate PERC indoor air concentrat ions in other facilities.