Determination of selected volatile organic compounds in the air of dry-cleaning shops in the Athens area: Pilot study

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a class of pollutants present, to a greater or lesser degree, in all indoor industrial and non-industrial environments. 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 concentrations of 6 selected VOCs (benzene, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene, m-and p-xylenes, nonane) in the air measured. This study showed that concentrations of some VOCs were beyond the ACGIH threshold limit values. However, 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.