[Measurement of tetrachloroethylene emissions at dry-cleaning establishments and their relation to MPEL values].

Abstract

The existing tetrachloroethylene was measured with the gas chromatographic method (FID detector), the spectro-photometric method (ICI Manual) based on the Fujiwava reaction, and using the gas detector (as approximation). The results obtained, however, do not differ in principle. Contaminated room air and leakages are the main sources of tetrachloroethylene at the dry cleaners and prevent the lowering of the traditional MEC value set at 100 mgm-3. Therefore the trend of diminishing the emission of exhaust air form machines can be neglected as factor in a general assessment. From the point of process engineering the problem of absorption of tetrachloroethylene in the indoor air with in the concentration range of 50 to 500 mgm-3 will be in the foreground. The excess of the MEC values is reflected by excess of the MIC values. It is difficult to keep to the MIC value within a distance of less than 50 m from the affected area of a dry cleaner.