Workers' breath as a source of perchloroethylene (Perc) in the home

Abstract

Wallace et al. (1991a) measured elevated levels of perchloroethylene (Perc) in the homes of six dry cleaning workers who used Perc in the workplace. This paper considers the hypothesis that dry cleaning workers introduce Perc into their homes by exhaling Perc accumulated in their bodies during the work day. We simulated worker exposure considering current occupational guidelines, uptake and body burden using a physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for Perc, and home concentrations using a simple model for a "typical" home. These results suggest that workers' body burdens of Perc may be sufficient to explain elevated home concentrations. The implications of these results, for design of exposure monitoring studies, are discussed, along with some other policy implications.