Since my focus for this blog is sharing good information regarding our kids, our environment and toxins, I want to share information about a common part of most families' weekly routines that many parents may not realize could be potentially dangerous – dry cleaning.
Did you know that most dry cleaners use dangerous chemicals to “clean” your garments?
Perchloroethylene (PERC) or Tetrachloroethylene are volatile organic solvents (a.k.a. dangerous chemicals) used by most dry cleaners even though overexposure can cause impaired memory, confusion, drowsiness, vertigo, irritability, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. With continued exposure, the side effects become more alarming: tremors, numbness, coma and death due to respiratory paralysis. Certain institutes and health agencies are even listing PERC as a suspected carcinogen. (I’m thinking those dry-cleaned items may not be quite so “clean” after all; how about you?)