Health risk assessment of PCE emissions from dry cleaning activities in France

Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is a solvent used mostly in the dry-cleaning and metal degreasing industries in Europe. Neurological and renal effects are the main non-cancer human health effects caused by chronic inhalation exposure of PCE. PCE is suspected to be probably carcinogenic to humans by IARC. During dry-cleaning processes, people are likely to be exposed to the chemical in a variety of ways because PCE emissions are not currently regulated in France. Exposed persons include workers, residents living in co-location with dry-cleaning establishments and the general population. This paper presents a literature review assimilating human exposure data to assess public health risk from dry-cleaning emissions. At the average indoor air level of 2 mg/m3 , there is concern for health risk to co-located residents living above dry cleaning establishments. A personal exposure of 15 ug/m3 of PCE should not cause adverse effects on the health of normal population