This study evaluated worker exposure to aromatic compounds and perchloroeth
ylene (PERC) in dry cleaning stores relative to four different solvents. Fo
r benzene and toluene, there was no significant difference among the indoor
air concentrations of the four different solvents. For ethylbenzene, m,p-x
ylene, and o-xylene, the air concentrations were significantly higher in th
e dry cleaning stores using Solvent V, YuClean, and Super New Cleaner than
in those using a PERC mixture. Breath concentrations measured prior to and
immediately after work were not significantly different for benzene and tol
uene, whereas breath concentrations of ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and o-xyle
ne were significantly higher (p <0.05) in the samples collected immediately
after work compared with those collected prior to work, The breath concent
rations of benzene and toluene both prior to and immediately after work sho
wed no upward or downward trend for 7 consecutive days excluding Sunday, st
arting from Monday. In contrast, the breath concentrations of ethylbenzene,
m,p-xylene, and o-xylene measured immediately after work showed a slight u
pward trend in three subjects. However, this trend was most likely not due
to an accumulated body burden from repeated daily work, but rather was the
result of the amount of solvent used each day. It is concluded that dry cle
aning workers using the aromatics-contained solvents are exposed to elevate
d levels of some aromatic compounds compared with the dry cleaning workers
using PERC. Further study is recommended to examine the presence of other a
ir toxics inside dry cleaning stores using these solvents.