1. Replacing PERC with safer alternatives in dry cleaning Steve Whittaker Local Hazardous Waste Management Program Public Health – Seattle & King County

2. Outline History of dry cleaning Dry cleaning solvents The problem with PERC An industry in crisis What is LHWMP doing? What else could be done?

3. Evolution of Dry Cleaning Solvents Pre 1960s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s Kerosene Turpentine Naptha Benzene Stoddard Carbon tet. TCE PERC introduced PERC use peaks Liquid CO 2 High-flash hydrocarbons Siloxane Glycol ethers 1-bp Water! Acetal (Solvon K4) California: PERC phase- out

4. Nothing cleans like PERC PERC (tetrachloroethylene) – 69% Hydrocarbons – 21% Solvon K4 Liquid CO 2 Liquid silicone Wet cleaning (water) Glycol ethers 1-bromopropane (!) Chemical Formula: C 2 Cl 4 Source: LHWMP, 2011

5. PERC Adapted from: Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College. Adapted from: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency PERC = DNAPL

7. Redmond, WA Groundwater 2006-2010

8. Redmond, WA - 2011 259 x 0.57 = 148 ppm

9. Redmond, WA - 2011 > 1000 ppm PERC (maxed out!)

10. Age of dry cleaning machines <1 Expected lifespan ? Source: LHWMP, 2011

11. ~36,000 current dry cleaning facilities in the U.S. ~75% contaminated with PERC Median cleanup cost: $230,000 Range: $29,000 - $2,000,000 Source: SCRD Drycleaner Site Profiles database, April 29, 2014

12. King County, WA: ~200 dry cleaners ~140 using PERC ~50 dry cleaners on Ecology’s Confirmed & Suspected Contaminated Sites List

13. Troy Laundry Seattle Cleanup Alternatives: 1—$11,327,000 2—$10,260,000 3—$16,822,000

14. PERC Harms People! 2014 EPA review (verified by NAS): – likely to be carcinogenic to humans – toxic to the CNS, kidney, liver, immune system, and hematologic system. – adverse effects on embryonic development and reproduction. Grandjean & Landrigan (2014): – PERC is a developmental neurotoxicant Meta-Analysis of Dry-Cleaning-Worker Studies: – increased risk of bladder cancer in dry cleaners Guyton et al. (2014). Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/ehp.1307359 Grandjean & Landrigan (2014). The Lancet Neurology, 13(3), 330-338. Vlaanderen et al. (2014). Environ Health Perspect; DOI:10.1289/ehp.1307055

15. PERC Kills Fish! Juvenile rainbow trout LC 50 : WA Dangerous Waste @ 100 mg/L WA Extremely Hazardous Waste @ 10 mg/L LC 50 = 5 mg/L Source: EPA ECOTOX database

16. A PERCfect Storm Cultural and language barriers Lack of knowledge of health effects Incorrect information from vendors Little interaction with OSHA Confusion about waste management Changing regulatory requirements Economically-challenged industry

17. What is LHWMP doing? Technical assistance & EnviroStars certification Research into alternatives Interagency Resource for Achieving Cooperation (IRAC): education/outreach “Mega vouchers” to replace equipment Three $20K awards in 2013 Four $15K awards in 2014 Substantial Improvement Reimbursements: $500 - $2500 Regular vouchers - up to $500 for 50% of costs

18. What else could be done? Goals: – Reduce exposure/health disparities – Minimize impacts on struggling businesses Multi-agency public/private strategy: – Incentivize conversion from PERC – Private and public financial incentives – Regulatory flexibility – Culturally appropriate technical guidance – Rigorous safer alternatives assessment

19. www.lhwmp.org/home/Health/drycleaners.aspx

20. Acknowledgements LHWMP staff: – Alice Chapman – Trevor Fernandes – Ryan Kellogg – Debra Oliver – Sharon Schoenfeld-Cohen – Laurel Tomchick – Linda van Hooser LHWMP interns: - Chantrelle Johanson - Cody Cullison - Jessie Taylor City of Redmond: - Amanda Balzer

21. Greenwashing? “It is very frustrating to see PERC dry cleaners promoting their 5 star EnviroStar status, it confuses customers into thinking PERC is environmentally friendly… I am frustrated that I paid a premium to build a "true" PERC free business and there is no support to promote our efforts.” No more 5-star EnviroStar PERC users