Epa Tightens Rules for Dry Cleaners

The Environmental Protection Agency is tightening rules for dry cleaners that use a chemical suspected of causing cancer and other serious health problems. The GLRC’s Erin Toner reports:

Transcript

The Environmental Protection Agency is tightening rules for dry cleaners that use a
chemical suspected of causing cancer and other serious health problems. The GLRC’s
Erin Toner reports:


Nearly 30 thousand dry cleaners across the country use perchloroethylene, or “perc.” The
government says while the potential for health effects for most dry cleaners is generally
low, some cleaners located in apartment buildings pose a risk. The new rules require a
complete phase out of perc at those dry cleaners by 2020.


Alison Davis is a spokesperson for the EPA:


“We did a very thorough analysis of the risk for people who live in apartment buildings
close to these dry cleaners. And based on that analysis, we understand that a lifetime of
exposure to perc emissions in these buildings is unacceptable.”


Since 1993, dry cleaners have cut perc emissions by 15 thousand tons a year. They’ve
begun using alternative solvents, and replaced old machines.


For the GLRC, I’m Erin Toner.

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