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Should you Reduce Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) Exposure?

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Since the mid-1930s, PERC, also known as perchloroethylene, PCE, tetrachloroethylene, and tetrachloroethene, has been an effective organic solvent that has mainly been used in the dry cleaning industry and to a lesser extent, in metal degreasing. PERC was an ideal dry cleaning solvent because of its excellent cleaning power, stable, non-flammable properties, and gentleness towards many articles of clothing. Many of the qualities that made PERC a desirable dry cleaning solvent also contributed to its usefulness in vapor degreasing. However, there were concerns that workers who routinely breathed excessive amounts of the solvent vapor or spilled PERC on their skin were at risk of developing health problems. In 1993, research data had led many organizations to believe that PERC was a potential human carcinogen; as a result, California and the EPA decided to begin regulating the use of PERC by establishing a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and producing advisory content concerning workplace exposure reduction. The current Occupational Safety and Health Administration PEL for PERC is 100 parts per million (8-hour TWA).

Although the dry cleaning industry has refined the control of PERC and created new equipment that has much lower exposure than older models, there is still a necessity to reduce employee exposure to the solvent in order to prevent health hazards that could result from long-term exposure.

Possible health effects of PERC Exposure

  • Dizziness, drowsiness, and loss of coordination
  • Mild loss of memory, visual perception, and reaction time after several years of exposure
  • Redness and blistering of the skin after extended dermal contact.

Primary Sources of PERC Exposure

  • Loading dirty garments into the machine (when perc-contaminated air is displaced and forced out of the machine)
  • Removing garments, especially thick articles, before the drying cycle is completed
  • Transferring solvent-laden clothes into the dryer
  • Lint and button filter cleaning
  • Raking out the still (distillation unit residue)
  • Solvent filter changes
  • Water separator maintenance
  • Hazardous waste management

Replacement: Safe for You and Your Employees!

With increasing regulations regarding PERC usage, the best solution to keep employees safe and prevent compliance headaches is replace PERC and use FluoSolv! FluoSolv is a solvent degreaser that is also commonly used for metal degreasing. If our existing blends of FluoSolv aren’t right for you, then contact us to create a custom blend that fits your needs! There are no charges for samples (up to 1-gallon), so check our FluoSolv page or give us a call today! 

 

Industrial Degreasing Agents – Eco-Friendly Parts Washer Solvents Offer Several Rewarding Benefits

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Recycling

Recycling

Cleaning agents are applied in numerous industries to remove grime, dirt, oil, grease, or other contaminants from a surface. Industrial degreasing agents are specially formulated to eliminate contaminants such as grease or oil from parts, machinery, and work areas within a structure. Less hazardous products containing alkaline chemicals in combination with surfactants have been developed to decrease environmental impact. Parts washer solvents are designed to dissolve and remove grease, dirt, or grime from surfaces without causing harm or leaving residue. They are applied in manufacturing or automotive industries to clean surfaces or parts during regular operations. A growing concern regarding environmental and health hazards of industrial degreasing agents has led to the formation of safer cleaning alternatives capable of providing equivalent removal results.

Industrial Degreasing Agents – Why Should Companies Choose Environmentally Safe Products?

The solvents applied during production or refinishing processes have a direct effect on the health of workers and the environment. Organic solvents are frequently carbon based and can be natural or synthetic in nature. Natural forms originate from plants or animals through resource extraction while synthetic forms are generated through the reactions generated by the introduction of additional compounds. A volatile organic compound or VOC is a chemical capable of vaporizing at room temperatures. Traditional agents have a high VOC count thus making them harmful to use and less eco-friendly. Increased volatility results in these products having a lower boiling point, which causes more molecules to enter the surrounding atmosphere during use. Companies must take extra precautions to prevent worker harm and meet the stringent requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for products of this nature.

Exposure to the VOC’s released by these cleaning agents must be controlled to prevent respiratory, allergy, and immune system complications. Hazardous Air Pollutants or HAP’s are another concern with traditional industrial degreasing agents. These are any airborne substance capable of causing irreversible harm to individuals or the atmosphere and contribute to health complications such as:

  • Nervous System Toxicity
  • Reproductive Damage
  • Liver or Kidney Damage
  • Respiratory Issues
  • Cancer
  • Loss of Consciousness

Prolonged exposure to extensive amounts of VOC’s and HAP’s among workers has been proven to result in several adverse effects. Industrial degreasing agents used in automotive or manufacturing industries also pose direct harm to the environment. Leaks or spills of these solvents result in soil or water contamination, which poses significant harm to surrounding animal and plant life. Soil contamination is most common in areas where high VOC industrial degreasing agents are used regularly. Eco-friendly alternatives prevent atmospheric harm while supplying equivalent cleaning abilities for ensuring continued operational success. Water-based or less harmful naturally derived organic solutions allow companies to reduce associated hazards without losing the benefits of highly volatile parts washer solvents. If your company uses industrial degreasing agents regularly, it is time to evaluate the dangers of this choice. A less volatile alternative capable of providing the same results can be substituted to create a safer, eco-friendly workplace.

Industrial degreasing agents are necessary in a number of industries and play a pivotal safety role in machine parts cleaning processes. For more information about environmentally friendly, low VOC products, please call (800) 886-8240 or email info@ecolink.com

Eco Friendly Cleaning Solvents for Business

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It is 2016, and in case you have not noticed, there is a heavily backed and quite popular movement to make sure companies are doing whatever is necessary to keep our planet clean. As a result, there is considerable effort to make sure that companies are implementing green alternatives wherever they can. Ignoring the ecofriendly movement isn’t even an option anymore, because you can easily expect extreme negative publicity, especially if there are indeed options for your business to where you could transition to ecofriendly solutions. The fact of the matter is that people are becoming aware how much harm can come from the way certain businesses are operated. Whether it be polluting or contaminating our water sources (rivers, lakes, the ocean) infecting the air =with pollutants and adding to the rapid disintegration of our ozone, or killing or plants, trees, and vegetation, people are angry, inciting others to join their cause, and are doing something about it—as well they should.

Industrial businesses can be one of the bigger culprits to leaking hazardous materials into our planet. As it pertains to businesses that use cleaning solvents and degreasers to rid parts, metals and materials of oil, dirt, grime, rust, and leftover adhesive residue, there are available ecofriendly cleaning solvents that will create a safer environment in your place of business, and will reduce the risk of exposure to hazardous gases and liquids of your workforce. The problem is, many industrial business owners fear that green alternatives mean a less effective cleaning and degreasing solution, which could damage their output, productivity, and reputation. Fortunately this is not true. In fact, there are new simpler ways to improve the use of degreasing agents for virtually any business manufacturing process. Good chemical manufacturers do exist that can help you makes changes and learn more about how truly effective and consistent ecofriendly cleaning solvents are.

Ecolink has been in the businesses of providing ecofriendly cleaning solutions for many years. We are ready to assist you with finding a successful green alternative to the chemical compound agent you currently have in use. Our professional team can help you eliminate chemical waste and find solutions that can help your company save time, money by cleaning your product faster, easier, and often cheaper. Our company’s professionals are standing by and are ready to help you transition to an ecofriendly cleaning solvent for your business, so you can eliminate your carbon footprint.