Occupational and environmental exposure to perchloroethylene (PCE) in dry cleaners and their family members.
Perchloroethylene exposure in 28 dry-cleaning establishments and in 25 homes occupied by dry cleaners in Modena, Italy, was investigated. Environmental air samples and alveolar air samples from dry cleaners (n = 60) and from their family members (n = 23) were collected. The degree of perchloroethylene on the dry-cleaning premises varied widely from establishment to establishment. Spot sampling ranged from 0.6 to 75 mg/m3, whereas sampling by personal passive dosimeters ranged from 2.6 to 221.5 mg/m3 (8-h time weighted average values). Perchloroethylene in alveolar air samples collected at the end of the work day correlated closely with the 8-h time weighted average values (r = .750, p = .001), and correlated also with alveolar air samples collected at home in the evening (r = .665, p = .001) and the following morning (r = .549, p < .001). Perchloroethylene levels inside the homes of dry cleaners appeared significantly higher than in 29 houses selected as controls (Mann Whitney U test, p < .001). Perchloroethylene in alveolar air samples collected at home suggests that nonoccupational exposure to perchloroethylene for family members of dry cleaners exists.
Aggazzotti
G
G
Hygiene Institute, University of Modena, Italy.
Fantuzzi
G
G
Righi
E
E
Predieri
G
G
Gobba
F M
FM
Paltrinieri
M
M
Cavalleri
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007846:Laundering; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene / Q000032:analysis*
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D013750:Tetrachloroethylene