EPA Orders Dry-Cleaning Chemical Phase-Out
(Washington, AP, 7/15/06)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is toughening restrictions on dry-cleaners by mandating the phasing out the use of the solvent, perchloroethylene (perc), in businesses located in residential buildings. Effective immediately, the EPA will no longer allow such establishments to replace worn-out equipment with perc-using machines and, by 2020, the agency will completely bar drycleaners operating in buildings where people live from using this toxic chemical, which has been shown to damage the central nervous system and to cause cancer.