Is dry cleaning all wet

Journal Article · · World Watch; (United States)

OSTI ID:6237959

Ryan, M

Chemical solvents from dry cleaning, particularly perchloroethylene (perc), have contributed to groundwater contamination, significant levels of air pollution in and around cleaners, and chemical accumulation in food. Questions are being raised about the process of cleaning clothes with chemical, and other less toxic cleaning methods are being explored. The EPA has focused attention on the 50 year old Friedburg method of cleaning, Ecoclean, which uses no dangerous chemicals and achieves comparable results. Unfortunately, the cleaning industry is resistant to change, so cutting back on amount of clothes that need dry cleaning and making sure labels aren't exaggerating when they say dry clean only, is frequently the only consumer option now.

• OSTI ID: 6237959
• Journal Information: World Watch; (United States), Journal Name: World Watch; (United States) Vol. 6:3; ISSN 0896-0615; ISSN WOWAEE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290300 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Environment
Health
& Safety
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
CLEANING
CLOTHING
CONTAMINATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FOOD
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PERCHLORATES
POLLUTION
SOLVENTS