C H L O R I N E     U S E     S E C T O R S
Dry Cleaning and Solvents


Every year, thousands of dry cleaning shops use millions of tons of the chlorinated solvent perchloroethylene to clean clothing.

More than half of all perchloroethylene produced in North America is used by dry cleaners; in other industries, it is used primarily as a metal degreaser and a chemical intermediate.

While the electronics and automobile industries have made plans to reduce or phase out their use of perc, the dry cleaning industry is only slowly following suit, primarily because dry cleaners have not had independent resources for innovation or research into alternatives.

As a result, the dry cleaning industry is one of the last major users of this dangerous organochlorine.


Sectors  PVC | Pulp and Paper | Dry Cleaning/Solvents | Refrigerants | Pesticides | Water Disinfection

Source documents for the information in this section, include: