Abstract:
Across the country, dry cleaning is the largest source of emissions of the toxic chemical perchloroethylene (Perc). Because of the known adverse effects of Perc on human health and the environment and the existence of several safer alternatives for dry cleaning, the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program (LHWMP) at Public Health – Seattle & King County has begun an intervention program to educate locally owned businesses on the key concerns of Perc and provide financial assistance to transition them to safer alternatives.