EPA's Risk Assessment Machinery Grinds Exceedingly Slowly, But PCE Is Now A Likely Human Carcinogen

On Friday, EPA finally issued its long-awaited revised risk assessment for tetrachloroethylene, also known as perc or PCE. EPA also issued a fact sheet summarizing its current views about PCE and how the new risk assessment fits into the Clean Air Act, Safe Drinking Water Act, and CERCLA regulatory regimes.

Because PCE is present at so many Superfund Sites, and given the number of dry cleaners – including many in residential areas – still using PCE, EPA seemed to go out of its way to minimize the significance of the new risk assessment. Among the points it made:

• Having ones clothes dry cleaned with PCE will not result in increased risk
• The new risk assessment will result in no immediate change to MCLs, Superfund cleanup levels, or the NESHAP for PCE.