Proper use of perchloroethylene for dry cleaning clothes is safe for the human body
Release Time:
2009-12-21 18:37
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Proper use of perchloroethylene dry cleaning is safe for the human body
China Commercial Federation Laundry and Dyeing Professional Committee
Recently, multiple media outlets have reported on issues related to perchloroethylene dry cleaning, attracting widespread attention from all sectors of society and drawing high concern from relevant government departments, causing a great stir in the laundry and dyeing industry. Therefore, on the morning of November 17, the China Commercial Federation Laundry and Dyeing Professional Committee held a special seminar on "Whether the use of perchloroethylene dry cleaning is harmful to the human body." The seminar discussed topics such as "The current use of perchloroethylene as a dry cleaning solvent in the domestic and international laundry and dyeing industry," "Relevant standards for perchloroethylene dry cleaning equipment in China," and "How to properly operate perchloroethylene dry cleaning equipment." Experts unanimously agreed that "as long as the equipment meets standards and is operated properly, using perchloroethylene for dry cleaning is safe."
Since the invention of dry cleaning in Europe over a hundred years ago, various dry cleaning agents have been used, such as gasoline, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, and trichlorotrifluoroethane. Perchloroethylene has been used as a dry cleaning solvent for about 70 years, making it the longest-used dry cleaning agent. Currently, in many developed countries in Europe, Australia, and North America, perchloroethylene dry cleaning machines still account for more than 80% of the market share. However, perchloroethylene is a toxic organic solvent. Therefore, many countries worldwide have set regulations on the permissible concentration of perchloroethylene gas in the workplace environment, ranging from 25 PPM to 50 PPM. China’s standard is 200 mg/m³ (equivalent to 27 PPM, GB16204-1996), which aligns with developed countries and is relatively strict.
In 2001, the EU Risk Assessment Center issued regulations targeting some European laundries that had not yet updated their dry cleaning machines to meet new standards. It stipulated that by January 31, 2007, the 56,570 perchloroethylene dry cleaning machines under their jurisdiction must comply with the relevant standards mentioned above. Additionally, European standards require that the consumption of perchloroethylene per kilogram of clothing washed in closed dry cleaning machines does not exceed 20 grams. This ensures that the residual perchloroethylene on clothes after drying is naturally negligible.
In the past decade or so, the Olympic Games held in Atlanta (USA), Barcelona (Spain), Sydney (Australia), and Athens (Greece) all used perchloroethylene dry cleaning as the main washing method to serve the events. Currently, the fully enclosed perchloroethylene dry cleaning machines used by laundries of a certain scale in China can fully meet the requirements of both China and Europe.
It is well known that alcohol is also a toxic solvent. There are tens of thousands of types of alcoholic beverages consumed by humans, and the vast majority of drinkers do not get poisoned because they control their intake and do not exceed toxic limits, thus avoiding poisoning. Therefore, controlling the emission and human intake of perchloroethylene is the key to ensuring safety.
Since 1985, China has fully introduced perchloroethylene dry cleaning in major cities for 20 years. Currently, there are about 200,000 various dry cleaning machines nationwide, of which 80% are perchloroethylene dry cleaning machines. However, fully enclosed dry cleaning machines account for less than 30%. To date, no cases of disease or disability have been found among employees using perchloroethylene dry cleaning under normal conditions. Because open perchloroethylene dry cleaning machines cannot meet emission standards, excessive emissions and residues may occur. Therefore, some local authorities have formulated or are formulating corresponding management regulations to phase out and update these machines within a deadline.
Promoting fully enclosed dry cleaning machines, strengthening management and maintenance, and ensuring that dry cleaning machines operate healthily at all times are prerequisites to guarantee that dry cleaning solvent emissions do not exceed standards. These are also effective means to control the impact of perchloroethylene on humans and the environment.
For laundry consumers, choosing a regular laundry shop to clean clothes is safe as long as procedures are followed, whether using perchloroethylene solvent or petroleum solvent dry cleaning.
The Laundry and Dyeing Professional Committee will actively cooperate with relevant government departments in future work to quickly formulate and improve related standards, advocate scientific and environmentally friendly industry development concepts, promote advanced washing equipment, strengthen industry self-discipline, enhance system construction, improve standards, strengthen scientific research, and improve innovation capabilities. Our purpose is to better develop the laundry and dyeing industry and provide higher quality services to society.
At the same time, we also feel that as the "home" of the industry, the association should actively serve the industry and advocate for its interests. We hope that through this event, the cohesion, communication, and cooperation among the national laundry and dyeing industry and related industries will be strengthened, and that we will handle our industry’s own affairs well. The China Commercial Federation Laundry and Dyeing Professional Committee is everyone’s bridge and platform.
2007-1-29
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