Perchloroethylene Monitoring
What is Perchloroethylene?
Perchloroethylene is a colourless liquid that is also called tetrachloroethylene, PERC, or PCE. It is primarily used for dry cleaning fabrics and degreasing metals.
it can be found in dry cleaned clothes, fabric finishers & consumer products such as:
- Adhesives
- Spot removers
- Shoe polish
- Printing inks
- Paint products
- Cleaning products
Perchloroethylene can enter the body through breathing & skin contact
Symptoms of Exposure
Short-term symptoms from breathing in the exposure can be anything from the following:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Lack of coordination
- Irritation of eyes and respiratory tract
Skin contact can cause:
- Irritation
- Redness and chapping
Long-term symptoms from breathing in the exposure can cause changes in the following:
- Mood
- Memory
- Attention
- Reaction time
- Vision
Exposure in high doses can also cause cancer.