Perchloroethylene (PCE, also called tetrachloroethylene) and trichloroethylene (TCE) are manufactured chemicals used for dry cleaning clothing and degreasing metals. They are both colorless liquids that can be released into the environment from improper transport, use, or disposal at places where they are used. When in exposed soil or water, PCE and TCE quickly evaporate into the air, where they can travel long distances. When trapped in groundwater, PCE and TCE can persist for long periods of time and potentially contaminate drinking water supplies. In the environment, PCE can also be broken down into TCE, which can then be broken down into other harmful chemicals as well.

People can be exposed to small amounts of PCE and TCE after their clothes are dry cleaned, but exposure most commonly occurs when dry cleaning businesses contaminate the surrounding air, water, or soil. Breathing air contaminated with PCE or TCE for even a short period of time can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and headache. Breathing high amounts of these chemicals can even cause coma and death. Drinking water contaminated with PCE or TCE can cause rashes as well as brain, heart, kidney, and liver damage. Exposure to these chemicals may also be linked to infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies both PCE and TCE as cancer-causing chemicals. The most common cancers seen in people exposed to these chemicals are kidney and liver cancers.

The Jones Road Groundwater Plume in Harris County, Texas is a site where a dry cleaning company operated from 1988 to 2002. The company contaminated soil and groundwater in the surrounding residential and commercial areas with PCE, TCE, and their breakdown products. In 2003 the area was designated as a Superfund site. EPA installed a waterline to provide about half of the surrounding homes and businesses with municipal water so they wouldn’t use their contaminated groundwater wells. However, the risk remains for exposure to vapors in the air. EPA has also treated some of the contaminated groundwater and soil, but even after over 20 years on the Superfund list, significant contamination persists. More action must be taken by EPA to remove groundwater and soil contamination from the Jones Road site to protect public health. People who live or work near the site shouldn’t have to worry about drinking or breathing PCE and TCE.