Commercial Carpet Cleaning with Perchloroethylene Residues (PERC, Dry Cleaning Solvent, Indoor Air Contamination, Neurotoxicity, IARC Group 2A) — household safety profile
High riskPerchloroethylene (PERC, tetrachloroethylene, CAS 127-18-4) has been the dominant solvent in commercial dry cleaning for over 70 years and is also used in some carpet cleaning formulations, spot removers, and fabric refreshers.
What is this product?
Perchloroethylene (PERC, tetrachloroethylene, CAS 127-18-4) has been the dominant solvent in commercial dry cleaning for over 70 years and is also used in some carpet cleaning formulations, spot removers, and fabric refreshers. When PERC-based carpet cleaning methods are used in homes, the solvent's high volatility (vapor pressure 18.5 mmHg at 25C) and chemical stability mean it off-gasses from treated carpets for days to weeks after application, creating persistent indoor air contamination. PERC is classified IARC Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans) based on evidence of bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma in dry cleaning workers. Acute effects include central nervous system depression (dizziness, headache, cognitive impairment), hepatotoxicity (elevated transaminases), and renal toxicity. Children living in homes with PERC-cleaned carpets have higher exposure per body weight due to floor-level activities and hand-to-mouth behavior on treated fibers. The EPA issued a final rule in 2023 under TSCA Section 6(a) to ban most consumer uses of PERC, with a phased compliance timeline extending to 2028, though existing stock in consumer products may persist beyond that date.
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