Can my dry cleaning give me cancer?

There has been a lot of negative publicity over the past 20 years about the dangers to humans of the dry cleaning solvent, perchloroethylene (perc). According to the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), much of the hype is scientifically unfounded.

Alternative petroleum based solvents are often cited as green alternatives, when in fact the opposite is true. According to the ACSH, “The advantages of perc compared to other such compounds include that it is not flammable, has low toxicity to humans, does not accumulate in humans and other living creatures, does not deplete the ozone layer, and is not persistent in the environment. Thus, it can be used beneficially without the negative effects on human health and the environment that are characteristic of some other solvents, such as petroleum products.”

At extremely high levels, perc is toxic to humans and can cause effects on the nervous system, liver and kidneys. However, according to the ACSH, “Critical analysis of the results of the many studies on perc show that there is no credible animal or epidemiological evidence that perc can cause cancer in humans. On the contrary, careful scientific examination of claims shows that it was the unique characteristics of rodents and their very high exposures to perc that led to their cancers, and that the results of such laboratory-animal studies do not apply to humans.”

So, don’t be afraid of your dry cleaning, its not going to give you cancer! You can read the full story for yourself on the ACSH website.