This study explores the impact of common dry cleaning solvents on workers’ health.
Dr. Diana Ceballos, Research Scientist at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and some of her research colleagues, set out to better understand how chemicals commonly used in the dry cleaning industry impact health.
Although today’s dry-cleaners are moving away from using perchloroethylene, a toxic chemical that may cause cancer, the work-related health effects of the chemicals taking its place are unknown.
To inform safe work practices that would better protect workers’ health, Dr. Diana Ceballos and her colleagues evaluated four dry cleaning shops. They published their results in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (JOEH), in their article “Occupational Exposures to New Drycleaning Solvents: High-flashpoint Hydrocarbon and Butylal.”
Dr. Ceballos and her research colleagues collected air samples from workers’ breathing zones. They were looking for evidence of butylal and high-flashpoint hydrocarbons, and also formaldehyde, and butanol because they are potential by-products of butylal. Both are known irritants and formaldehyde is a probable carcinogen.
Air levels in all dry cleaning shops tested highest for the dry cleaning solvents when workers loaded and unloaded the dry cleaning machines and pressed dry cleaned fabrics.
