80% of dry cleaners use Perchloroethylene ("perc")—a chlorinated, industrial solvent used for degreasing metal that has harmful effects on our health and the environment. According to the EPA and World Health Organization:

Perc enters the blood stream through the skin and lungs. Perc accumulates in body fat, the liver, brain tissue and is even found in breast milk.

Perc is a probable carcinogen and has been linked to esophagus, bladder and non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancers as well as spontaneous abortion, menstrual and sperm disorders and reduced fertility.

Breathing PERC can adversely affect the human nervous system with effects that range from dizziness, fatigue, headaches and sweating, to unconsciousness.

Prolonged perc exposure may increase the instances of schizophrenia in children as much as 200%.

Garments cleaned with perc continue to off-gas chemicals into the air of your car and home. Tests show that food in a car with dry cleaned clothes absorbs elevated levels of perc. Even after three months, 40 percent of the perc residue in a garment is still present, slowly evaporating into the environment.

Solid residue, or “sludge,” from dry cleaning facilities that use perc are classified as hazardous materials.

Of the approximately 1,200 Superfund sites in the United States, more than half are contaminated with perc.

Federal and state studies have found that as much as 25 percent of drinking water supplies and nearly 40 percent of surface waters tested in the US are contaminated with Perc.

On January 1, 2007, California became the first state to ban perc due to environmental concerns, beginning a 15-year total phase out.

  In an effort to become "perc-free," many dry cleaners have turned to something just as problematic, hydrocarbon solvents, as their primary cleaning agents. These toxic petroleum derivatives are VOCs (volatile organic compounds) known to be ozone-depleting hazardous air pollutants. Hydrocarbons increase smog and greenhouse gas emissions. Perc and "alternative" hydrocarbon solvents are still being used by 95% of dry-cleaners in this country. The only garment cleaning process completely backed by environmental action groups is the wet cleaning process used at EcoClean. You can learn more about the dangers of Perc here and here .

 

The California State Legislature recently banned "Perc," due to the potential cancer risks involved in its use. You can read the full article here. Watch the video here. The EcoClean "Wet Cleaning" process uses environmentally safe detergents that pose no harm to public health.