Headlines - Perchloroethylene in Dry Cleaners: Measures Taken

Perchloroethylene is used in dry cleaners and laundromats equipped with dry-cleaning machines. Since 2008, the Ministry of Ecology and the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Health have been implementing an action plan to reduce its potential health impacts. In fact, in cases of frequent and intense exposure, perchloroethylene can be toxic to the kidneys and the nervous system, and cause irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract, as well as dizziness and nausea.

Consequently, inspection campaigns targeting dry cleaners have been conducted since 2008 by the Inspectorate of Classified Facilities. Inspections are conducted systematically in response to complaints from local residents and, in cases of serious non-compliance, result in measures that may include the suspension of operations. A draft ministerial decree regulating dry-cleaning facilities using perchloroethylene currently provides, in particular:

• a ban on any new facilities using perchloroethylene located in premises adjacent to residential buildings,

• the suspension of dry cleaning operations if the rapid action threshold of 1,250 μg/m³ recommended by the High Council for Public Health is exceeded in apartments and premises adjacent to dry cleaning facilities,

• the phased shutdown of existing facilities using perchloroethylene between 2014 and 2022, depending on the situation.

At the same time, the ministries have tasked ANSES and INERIS with conducting assessments of the potential risks associated with products used as substitutes for perchloroethylene.

This program complements the efforts of the Ministry of Labor, which, through regular inspections of these facilities—covering both the working conditions of affected employees and compliance with labor code regulations—has reduced the occupational exposure limit by more than half. A draft decree scheduled for July 2012 will make a new 8-hour limit of 138 mg/m² mandatory. Finally, the Ministry of Labor, Employment, and Health is currently developing a protocol for specialized medical care for individuals exposed to perchloroethylene, with the participation of occupational and environmental pathology centers and the Institute for Public Health Surveillance.