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Health Indicator Report of Perchloroethylene in Outdoor Air

Perchloroethylene (also called tetrachloroethylene), is a colorless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics. Textile mills, chlorofluorocarbon producers, vapor degreasing and metal cleaning operations, and makers of rubber coatings may also use perchloroethylene. It is also commonly used in aerosol formulations, solvent soaps, printing inks, typewriter correction fluid, adhesives, sealants, shoe polishes and lubricants. Perchloroethylene is a central nervous system depressant. Inhaling its vapors can cause dizziness, headache, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, and unconsciousness. Breathing perchloroethylene over long periods of time can cause liver and kidney damage and memory loss. Perchloroethylene is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a probable human carcinogen.

Notes

Data Source: National-scale Air Toxics Assessment (NATA), 2017 and NJDEP Division of Air Quality

Definition

Mean of modeled annual average perchloroethylene concentration for census tracts in a county using 2017 NATA data

Numerator

Modeled mean perchloroethylene concentration in micrograms per cubic meter

Denominator

N/A

How Are We Doing?

The highest ambient air concentration can be found in Hudson County.

What Is Being Done?

Industrial facilities that emit this chemical must obtain permits from the NJDEP Air Program and are also subject to state and federal air pollution control technology requirements.

Available Services

To view select air quality data collected at outdoor monitors across the United States go to: [http://www.epa.gov/airdata] New Jersey County Risk Ratio tables can be found at the following URL: [http://www.state.nj.us/dep/airmon/airtoxics/nataest.htm#rrtab]
Page Content Updated On 03/17/2022, Published on 03/22/2022
The information provided above is from the Department of Health's NJSHAD web site (https://nj.gov/health/shad). The information published on this website may be reproduced without permission. Please use the following citation: " Retrieved Fri, 29 March 2024 3:01:36 from Department of Health, New Jersey State Health Assessment Data Web site: https://nj.gov/health/shad ".

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