Determination of Selected Volatile Organic Compounds in the Air of Dry-Cleaning Shops in the Athens Area: Pilot Study

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a class of pollutants present, to a greater or lesser degree, in all indoor industrial and non-industrial environ ments. Such pollution may be increased by the use of specific compounds. For example, perchloroethylene and trichloroethylene used for the dry-cleaning of clothing provide a source of indoor air pollution in establishments which carry out this work. To study this, inquiries were made at 30 dry-cleaning shops in the Athens area. Air samples were collected from 19 of these and the concen trations of 6 selected VOCs (benzene, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, m- and p-xylenes, nonane) in the air measured. This study showed that concentra tions of some VOCs were beyond the ACGIH threshold limit values. How ever, although no particular study was made, there were no complaints of ill health in spite of the toxic implications which may reflect a typical healthy worker effect.