Air Resources Board Proposal Allows Continued Use of Cancer-Causing Chemical at Dry Cleaners and Fails to Implement State Law to Promote Safer Alternatives

Press Release

May 11 , 2006

Contact: Annette Kondo

213-630-1192 x. 103
818-599-4911 (cell)

Air Resources Board Proposal Allows Continued Use of Cancer-Causing Chemical at Dry Cleaners and Fails to Implement State Law to Promote Safer Alternatives

LOS ANGELES-The California Air Resources Board (ARB) is scheduled to vote May 25 on a proposal that does not adequately protect Californians from a known carcinogen that is used by most dry cleaners in the state.

More than 25 labor, community, health and environmental groups have signed a May 10 letter opposing this proposal which allows the continued use of perchloroethylene, also known as "perc," in dry cleaning indefinitely. This coalition is urging the ARB to replace the current proposal with an expeditious phase-out of this toxic chemical. The broad coalition of groups include: the Coalition for Clean Air, California Communities Against Toxics, Southern California Watershed Alliance, Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (SoCalCOSH), American Lung Association of California, Association of Irritated Residents, Sweatshop Watch, Breast Cancer Fund, Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council, among many others (For an updated list of co-signers please visit: www.coalitionforcleanair.org)

Every day, Californians suffer the consequences of perchloroethylene.

For six years, Pomona dry cleaner Lawrence Lee recalled how he and his employees suffered constant headaches and skin that was irritated, itchy or bloody from using perc. "It was not good for the health of the people who are inside," Lee said. "When they iron the clothes or are just working, they all feel it."

California Proposition 65 has classified perc as a chemical known to cause cancer. Perc can also cause: cracking or irritation of the skin; irritation of the eyes, nose, mouth, throat and lungs; burns; headaches; dizziness; nausea; fainting; coughing; fluid buildup in the lungs; and damage to the central nervous system, kidneys, liver, and reproductive system.

According to Environmental Protection Agency data, perc is one of the top 10 most toxic air contaminants in California. Statewide, the dry cleaning industry emits about 3 million pounds of perc per year into the air. It is also estimated that perc has contaminated one in 10 public drinking wells in the state.

Perc, a toxic solvent, poses an unacceptable health risk to dry cleaners, their employees, their customers, and our neighborhoods. The use of this hazardous chemical is also an environmental justice issue as most dry cleaners are small business owners and employees are predominately people of color. Health and labor groups say many workers aren't even aware of this workplace danger.

"It is urgent that worker and environmental health groups work towards revealing silent killers, such as perc, that cause harm to workers without their knowledge," said Suzan Luu, Coordinator for the Southern California Coalition for Occupational Safety & Health (SoCalCOSH). "Health and safety coalitions are working to coordinate and disseminate information to the community, support policy affecting workers, and provide training and education to eliminate and prevent workplace injuries."

To help cleaners switch to safer alternatives, state legislation, Assembly Bill 998 (authored by state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach), was signed into law in January 2003.

The AB 998 program directed the Air Board to:

Apply a fee on the perc used in dry cleaning,
Use some of the funds to establish a demonstration program of non-toxic, non-smog forming alternatives, and,
Use the additional funds for grants to cleaners which are making the transition to these safer alternatives.

But ARB has barely started the AB 998 program. It has not: fully collected the fees, implemented a single demonstration, and it has made only 14 grants in a state with almost 5,000 dry cleaners, most of which use perc.

Now, despite the opportunity to eliminate this toxic chemical from dry cleaning, ARB proposes to allow its use indefinitely at dry cleaners in all California neighborhoods.

"Given that ARB acknowledges that there are cost-effective non-toxic, non-smog forming alternatives, we urge the board to replace the current proposal with an expeditious phase-out of perc dry cleaning," said Tim Carmichael, President of the Coalition for Clean Air.

An alternative garment care system - professional wet cleaning - is already available and being used successfully in California. Wet cleaners do not use toxic chemicals, relieving small businesses of the burden of hazardous chemical regulations, permits, fees, and disposal challenges. Most importantly, owners, workers, customers and neighbors are not exposed to perc.

Just ask Lee, who switched to wet cleaning one year ago. "Now it's much better than before," he said. "There's no smell, our skin doesn't hurt, we save money on gas and electrical bills. And we have no chemical bills, it's much cheaper now."

Lee's customers also like the switch to a non-toxic system. "Our customers say they feel good," Lee said. "Our business is growing. I guess the people like it."

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For more than 35 years, the non-profit Coalition for Clean Air has worked to restore clean air to California. With offices in Sacramento, Los Angeles and Fresno, it is focused on reducing pollution, protecting natural resources and strengthening the California environmental community.

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