AN INVESTIGATION OF INDOOR AIR CONTAMINATION IN RESIDENCES ABOVE DRY CLEANERS

An investigation of residences located above dry cleaning facilities w as conducted to determine whether indoor and outdoor air concentration s of the dry cleaning solvent tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene, PC E) were elevated compared to residences not near a dry cleaning facili ty. Data were also collected on the dry cleaners' operating conditions and equipment. Significantly elevated levels of PCE were found in the indoor air of each of six apartments located above dry cleaners compa red to control residences for both day and night samples. The PCE conc entrations in outdoor air near the dry cleaners were also significantl y elevated compared to control locations and were lower than the conce ntrations measured indoors. The type of dry cleaning machine was signi ficantly associated with the concentration of PCE found in the apartme nt above. A strong correlation was also found between the day and nigh t PCE levels in the study apartments.