mardi 23 avril 2019

Bad Effects Of Laundering At Dry Cleaners You May Not Know About

By Ann Hill


Laundry is a millennia old household activity. It used to be using only water but as time passes, soaps and then detergents are used along with it to clean the stains on the clothes. In recent years, dry cleaners Apopka are popping up at each corner.

Dry cleaning do not really mean dry. It means it does not use water. This is the difference they have against regular laundry. The dry cleaning machine is a combination of the washing machine and the dryer. Instead of water, it uses liquid solvents. As the clothes get placed on the machine, it gets soaked in the solvents. It gradually drains the solvent as the clothes tumble to dry.

Getting the service of these shops has major drawbacks. One, this is not really economical and two, not environmentally friendly. These solvents are chemical compounds that cannot be good to both people and Mother Nature.

One angle we can obviously see is money. In comparison to regular washing machines, this method is costlier to customers. This is due to the fact they are paying for the liquid solvent. Even though it is known that it will be filtered and reused, this does not change the fact that these are expensive chemical solvents.

One known chemical solvent in this business is PERC, short for perchloroethylene. This is a nonflammable and synthetic solvent developed in the 1930s. It was later on discovered that this is a highly toxic chemical that affects the health of a person and the environment.

There is a statement from Occupational Safety and Health Administration that high risk to health is bound to happen to people exposed to it. Even when they made little contact with it, they are still at risk because it is highly carcinogenic. Mild exposure can trigger symptoms of ailments temporarily.

Scientific studies have shown several adverse effects it brings to health. Employees are the most common victims of these effects for they work closely with the process. Some effects may be mild such as visual impairments, skin blisters, headaches, and muscle incoordination. On the severe side of the spectrum, there are damages to the nervous system and development of cancer cells.

When not properly disposed, these chemicals create risks in the environment. Its effects may spread via water, air, and land. Let us take an example. Say that there is a drop of PERC spillage on the ground. Sooner or later, it will get seeped in the soil until it reaches the underground water reserves. That single drop may be carried into the atmosphere. It may even be swept by the wind while an unsuspecting person inhales it as he passes by.

A green movement explicitly applied in some shops makes use of liquid carbon dioxide as a solvent to safely clean the clothes. It is safe if it is duly regulated. It should be noted that carbon dioxide is still toxic to people. Higher concentrations of this liquid can cause an acidic and sharp odor. When inhaled, it results to stinging of the nose, dizziness, headaches and even rapid breathing. Skin contacts can create frostbite due to its cryogenic property.




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