Oregon Dry Cleaners Association

The Air Quality division of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been working on setting ambient benchmarks for air toxins and PERC is on the list.

Oregon Dry Cleaners Association (ODCA) has been investigating and NOW is the time for everyone to step forward and benefit from all the work that ODCA has done.

It would be impossible to go into all the research that has been done so below will be basic information and if you would like more information please contact Kathey Butters at kbutters@oregondrycleaners.org or 503-871-5144.

It appears that they are using California’s EPA number as a basis for the proposed benchmark. Halogenated Solvent Industry Alliance (HSIA) has developed a critique of the problem with California’s number and will submit during the comment period. ODCA basis for comment comes from the minutes of the Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee (ATSAC).

15 Tetrachloroethylene
This air toxic, commonly referred to as perchloroethylene or PERC, is considered a Class B2/C carcinogen.8 Animal data indicate its potential as a human carcinogen but to date no human study has supported this conclusion. The Committee wondered why better, and more recent, data weren’t available for such a commonly used solvent. It was suggested that a lack of clear evidence for human carcinogenicity was likely related to the difficulty of isolating the effect of PERC on human cancer incidence, given the many probable confounding factors in earlier worker studies. The Committee concluded that PERC was probably a human carcinogen, based on it being identified as such by a number of agencies, and ought to be treated that way. Following their established practices,5 it was the consensus of the Committee to use the higher OEHHA value of 0.17 μ g m-3 as Oregon’s interim ambient benchmark for tetrachloroethylene.

As you can see the ATSAC did not look at the most recent study released out of the Nordic Countries. ODCA will be publicly requesting that the committee review and consider this study.

ODCA contacted Steve Risotto from HISA and made him aware of the public comment period and they will be responding. We also have been in contact with Nora Nealis from National Cleaners Association (NCA) and they will comment also.

        We are asking all dry cleaners in the state to submit comments. Below is a link that will tell you how to comment (there are several different ways in which to submit your comments). Ask that the ATSAC Committee review the most recent study from the Nordic Countries and consider the critique of the California EPA number submitted by HSIA.

http://www.deq.state.or.us/ne ws/publicnotices/uploaded/060207_5621_05-AQ- 002_Benchmarks.pdf

If you are unable to use the above link please contact Kathey Butters at the above and she will give you the comment information.
        

March 28, 2006

Department of Environmental Quality

Conference Room 3A

811 SW Sixth Avenue, Portland

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

March 29, 2006

Jackson County Courthouse Auditorium

10 S. Oakdale, Medford

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

March 30, 2006

Department of Environmental Quality

Conference Room

2146 NE Fourth Avenue, Bend

6:00 to 8:00 p.m.