The Korean-American Cleaners Association of California (KCAC) has asked the California Air Resources Board to reconsider its decision in 2007 to phase out use of perchloroethylene (PERC; also known as PCE, perchloroethene, tetrachloroethylene, and tetrachloroethene) for dry cleaning use.

Exposure to PERC generally comes from inhalation of vapors from clothes that have been dry cleaned or from working or living near a dry cleaner using PERC. PERC can also be absorbed through the skin when in direct contact with clothes that have been dry cleaned. PERC has been shown to be associated with respiratory difficulties, problems with attention and memory, and with certain forms of cancer.

According to National Clothesline -- a news and information service provider for the garment care industry, the KCAC is urging the board to reconsider its decision "because the phase-out could drive many of its members out of business, especially in view of the current economic situation". The KCAC also argued that switching to new equipment could require installation of fire suppression systems where high-flash hydrocarbon cleaning systems are used. They argue that this makes the cost of using new solvents far greater than what they believe the air resources board estimated.

As a result of the 2007 decision by the California Air Resources Board, PERC use in California has already begun to be phased out. The decision required that no new PERC-using machines would be installed in California after December 31, 2007. The decision also requires that existing PERC machines in co-residential facilities (facilities that share a wall with, or are located in the same building, as a residence), be removed from service by July 1, 2010 and requires that machines that have been converted to use a primary emission control device or are 15 years or older must be removed from service by July 1, 2010. Further, the decision required that dry cleaners will replace all PERC use in in dry cleaning with safer alternatives already available on the market by 2023.
 

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