Why Is This Important?

Perchloroethylene (also called tetrachloroethylene), is a colorless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics. Textile mills, chlorofluorocarbon producers, vapor degreasing and metal cleaning operations, and makers of rubber coatings may also use perchloroethylene. It is also commonly used in aerosol formulations, solvent soaps, printing inks, typewriter correction fluid, adhesives, sealants, shoe polishes and lubricants.

Perchloroethylene is a central nervous system depressant. Inhaling its vapors can cause dizziness, headache, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, and unconsciousness. Breathing perchloroethylene over long periods of time can cause liver and kidney damage and memory loss. Perchloroethylene is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a probable human carcinogen.

Definition

Mean of modeled annual average perchloroethylene concentration for a county

Data Sources

• USEPA Air Toxics Screening Assessment and NJDEP Division of Air Quality
  (https://www.epa.gov/AirToxScreen)
• Air Toxics Screening Assessment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  (https://www.epa.gov/AirToxScreen)

How the Measure is Calculated

How Are We Doing?

The highest ambient air concentration can be found in Hudson County.

What Is Being Done?

Industrial facilities that emit this chemical must obtain permits from the NJDEP Air Program and are also subject to state and federal air pollution control technology requirements.

Available Services

To view select air quality data collected at outdoor monitors across the United States go to: http://www.epa.gov/airdata

More Resources

The USEPA Integrated Risk Information System provides more detailed information about perchloroethylene and research studies on its health effects. https://iris.epa.gov/ChemicalLanding/&substance_nmbr=106

Information on New Jersey Air Toxics and associated health benchmarks can be found at: https://dep.nj.gov/airplanning/airtoxics/

Pollution Prevention and Community Right to Know: http://web.doh.state.nj.us/rtkhsfs/factsheets.aspx

NJDEP "What's in My Community?" mapping application: https://njdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=76194937cbbe46b1ab9a9ec37c7d709b On the map you will find every facility with an air permit registered with the Division of Air Quality at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.