Industrial Hygiene Report: Perchloroethylene at Marvel Cleaners, 212 West 35th Street, New York City, New York

摘要

Worker exposures to perchloroethylene (127184) (PCE) were determined at Marvel Cleaners (SIC-7216) in New York City, New York, on August 28, 1979. The survey was part of NIOSH industrywide mortality and hygiene studies of dry cleaning workers exposed to PCE. Ten employees were assigned to dry cleaning and pressing operations that were surveyed. The company had no formal safety and industrial hygiene program. During 571 minutes of dry cleaning, the dry cleaner/spotter's time-weighted average (TWA) exposure was 46 parts per million (ppm) of PCE. The TWA concentration of PCE in the dry cleaning areas was 71ppm and the average exposure at the front counter was 0.4ppm. TWA concentrations of PCE at three locations in the pressing area were 0.7, 0.4, and 0.5ppm. The OSHA permissible 8 hour TWA concentration standard was 100ppm. The author suggests that exposure due to PCE be limited as much as possible to PCE's uncertain status as a possible carcinogen. He recommends pre-employment examinations, emergency respiratory protection, use of protective clothing, employee education, and engineering and safety controls.