Solvents account for approximately 10% of all chlorine production. They pose direct threats to workers, consumers, communities and common contaminants in groundwater, and air. The most common chlorinated solvent known to consumers is perchloroethylene, the chemical used in drycleaning.

The substitution of chlorinated solvents with safer processes is one of the easiest and most feasible forms of implementing cleaner production.

Industrial Solvent Use Substitution
Wet Cleaning Without Solvents

Source documents for the information in this section, include:

• ALTERNATIVES TO DIOXIN SOURCES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. Greenpeace, September 1996.