A bit Know How About Tetrachloroethylene....Dry Cleaning Agent

Dry Cleaning

Tetrachloroethylene, also known under its systematic name tetrachloroethene and many other names, is a chlorocarbon with the formula Cl2C=CCl2. It is a colourless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics, hence it is sometimes called "dry-cleaning fluid." It has a sweet odor detectable by most people at a concentration of 1 part per million (1 ppm). It finds its abundance use in textile. Textile Laboratory normally uses two gallons per month for testing purposes. International organization for standardization also advises its use in its standard for textile testing in ISO 105 DO1

Health and safety
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified tetrachloroethene as a Group 2A carcinogen, which means that it is probably carcinogenic to humans.Like many chlorinated hydrocarbons, tetrachloroethene is a central nervous system depressant and can enter the body through respiratory or dermal exposure. Tetrachloroethene dissolves fats from the skin, potentially resulting in skin irritation.
Animal studies and a study of 99 twins by Dr. Samuel Goldman and researchers at the Parkinson's Institute in Sunnyvale, California determined there is a "lot of circumstantial evidence" that exposure to Tetrachloroethlene increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease ninefold. Larger population studies are planned

Testing for exposure
Tetrachloroethene exposure can be evaluated by a breath test, analogous to breath-alcohol measurements. Because it is stored in the body's fat and slowly released into the bloodstream, tetrachloroethene can be detected in the breath for weeks following a heavy exposure. Tetrachloroethylene and trichloroacetic acid (TCA), a breakdown product of tetrachloroethene, can be detected in the blood.

Conclusion

Proper handling and safety equipment (Masks, Gloves etc) should be utilized during performing test containing dry cleaning agent Tetrachloroethylene.