New study has reignited concerns of Liver Disease caused by dry-cleaning chemicals. However, what is the Commercial Dry Cleaning industry to do?
The problem, as it always is, goes beyond chemical use to the entire life cycle of PCE.
Piecing together the PCE problem:
A study by the Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, USA, linked PCE (tetrachloroethylene, perc), a common dry cleaning solvent, to Liver Fibrosis in people exposed to the chemical.
Widely documented for its environmental & health hazards, PCE continues to be used across several industrial and commercial sectors, including:
- Commercial dry-cleaning
- Metal degreasing
- Flurocarbon Production
- Other Consumer Products
According to the study, the dose makes the poison.
Individuals exposed to PCE were three times more likely to have liver fibrosis.
In addition to liver damage, past studies have linked PCE exposure to kidney problems, neurotoxicity, and certain cancers and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The Indian dry cleaning market, growing at 8.27% CAGR through 2030, is a key driver of the global PCE market, projected at a CAGR of 3% from 2025 to 2031.
Do industry personnel need to be concerned?
If so, what’s the next step?
Under the lens:
Policies:
The US has a 10-year phase-out plan for PCE.
What is the chemical policy in India?
- Tetrachloroethylene (PCE) is a listed hazardous chemical. (MSIHC) Rules, 1989.
- A listed hazardous waste, Hazardous Waste Management Rules, 2016.
- Facilities using or disposing of PCE need State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) authorization.
However, there is no specific regulatory framework governing its use in the dry-cleaning sector.
A study by Toxics Link (2022) on dry-cleaning practices in Delhi and Kolkata observed that “the dry-cleaning industry in India does not have any specific regulatory framework to govern its functions,” and that most units lacked safe disposal mechanisms for solvent residues.
PCE Waste disposal policies needs to be done in accordance with local laws. The effective treatement of and disposal needs to be enforced strictly, with thorough paperwork and audits.
Practices:
The exposure to PCE vapours is quite high in older dry-cleaning machines.
In modern closed-loop machines, the exposure is limited to 3 stages:
- Opening of PCE storage drums to feed into the laundry machine.
- Unloading dry-cleaned clothes onto trays
- Preparing clothes for steam pressing
A study conducted in the UAE, across 4 large dry-cleaning facilities, revealed key findings:
- The highest amount of exposure is at stage 2 (unloading dry-cleaned clothes)
- The highest effects were in facilities that lacked proper PPE, infrastructure (Ventilation, HVAC, modern dry-cleaning machines) and awareness.
Workers who are heavily affected are the ones who come in contact with the PCE vapours while unloading dry-cleaned clothes from the machines to the loading tray.
Laundries need to repeatedly train workers on safety procedures and enforce the use of PPE stringently.
The industry needs more transparency, accountability and thorough documentation of their workers, PPE materials and task segregation to get insight into the health of those in the frontlines.
Along with better wage and health protection via medical insurances also need to be gauranteed for workers.
Prevention:
- Machine Maintenance:
Dry cleaning machines need to be thoroughly maintained to prevent leaks that expose PCE to the air, soil and water. Integrating preventative maintenance via AI-based sensors, IoT software and strict audits can safeguard personnel and environment
- Monitoring Indoor Air Quality:
Dry cleaning facilities located in other commercial or residential buildings need to factor in ventilation. Evaporated PCE vapours pool non-ventilated areas threatening life & safety. Thorough maintenance of HVAC systems & vent cleaning can mitigate hazards
- Clothing Labels:
Clothes manufactures need to go beyond basic cloth care instructions and not restrict labelling most special need clothes under dry-cleaning. The industry requires skilled professionals and talent to go beyond wet or dry cleaning to cater to different soils and garment care needs.
Quality Dry Cleaning machines for various solvents
Protection & Alternatives:
- Lifecycle Management:
The life-cylce of PCE chemicals needs to be thoroughly documented, ensuring zero leakage during transportation and storage.
PCE spills on floor drainage needs to be combatted with immediate actions: such PCE-resistant plugs.
Facilities need to install a sub-slab depressurization system, similar to a radon mitigation system, to reduce the chemical load in the air.
PCE waste needs to be disposed in safe & secure secondary storage to neary treatment facilities or co-processing facilities.
- Alternatives to PCE:
Alternatives to PCE in dry cleaning include hydrocarbon solvents, silicone-based solvents, liquid carbon dioxide, and professional wet cleaning.
Research is ongoing into developing new biodegradable solvents that are even more effective and environmentally friendly.
The effects of PCE can also be mitigated with advanced wet cleaning methods to treat different soils & stains (emulsifiers, bleach, detergent boosters etc)
Conclusion
The Delhi & Kolkata based study also found PCE residues in 15 of 20 garments tested post-cleaning, indicating persistent vapour and worker exposure. Despite its listing as a hazardous substance, there are no defined exposure limits or phase-out plans for PCE in India.
Moreover, smaller laundries often operate with outdated, open-system machines and limited access to closed-loop technology that could contain solvent emissions.
Indian operators must navigate fragmented regulations under the Factories Act, 1948 and Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code without clear enforcement on chemical exposure. This regulatory ambiguity leaves both workers and facilities vulnerable to preventable chemical and environmental risks.
Without government interference, the onus falls on operators to enforce better working conditions (ventilation, PPE, training & upskilling) to safeguard your workers.
Until new sustainable cleaning solutions and innovation can meet demands and scale.