Arbejdsrapport fra Miljøøstyrelsen 36/2006 – Indeklimakoncentrationer af rensevæske i boliger over et repræsentativt udsnit af danske renserier

Indeklimakoncentrationer af rensevæske i boliger over et repræsentativt udsnit af danske renserier

Summary and conclusions

The present project has been completed for the purpose of collecting information on current indoor climate concentrations of cleaning liquid vapours in apartments situated above a representative segment of Danish dry-cleaning facilities. It is further the objective to compare the identified concentrations with the situation before the current number of initiatives was implemented with the adoption of the Statutory Order No. 532 of 18 June 2003 on the establishment and operation of dry-cleaning facilities.

Measurements of the indoor climate concentration of cleaning liquid vapours have been performed in 32 apartments situated above dry-cleaning facilities. The number of measurement sites comprises approximately 20% of the total number of dry-cleaning facilities in Denmark. All measurement sites originate from dry-cleaning facilities that comply with Statutory Order No. 532. The material is divided into dry-cleaning facilities that use tetrachloroethylene and hydrocarbons as cleaning liquid respectively.

26 measurements have been performed in apartments situated above dry-cleaning facilities that use tetrachloroethylene. These measurements have indicated an average indoor climate concentration of tetrachloroethylene of 0.30 mg/m³. Compared to the situation prior to the adoption of the Statutory Order on the establishment and operation of dry-cleaning facilities this is a reduction of more than 90%, as the average indoor climate concentration in Danish apartments was recorded to 3.3 mg/m³ immediately before Statutory Order No. 532 was initiated (Information from the Danish Environmental Protection Agency 2005b).

The very significant reduction in the indoor climate concentration in apartments situated above dry-cleaning facilities documented by this investigation must be attributed to the effect of Statutory Order No. 532.

5 out of 26 measurement sites that use tetrachloroethylene as cleaning liquid (19%) turned out not to comply with the requirements of the Statutory Order for maximum contribution to the apartment above at the time of measurement.

It was not a purpose of the investigation to find reasons for any non-compliance. Therefore, these measuring sites have not been examined further. However, it is considered likely that the reasons for the non-compliances were inadequate quality or inappropriate use of constructional or ventilation work rather than inappropriate requirements in the Statutory Order.

It is recommended that experience be collected in order to support the municipal authorities' control of the dry-cleaning facilities and to support dry-cleaning facilities' planning of actions and thus continued operations.

As a concrete action we suggest that a manual be drawn up on Best Practice in the field of dry cleaning. The manual should be drawn up by systematically collecting information from owners of dry-cleaning facilities, from service and ventilation companies and from consultants in the field. Experience from the five dry-cleaning facilities that show non-compliances in this investigation should be included as well.

None of the 6 measurements in apartments situated above the hydrocarbon dry-cleaning facilities and 3 measurements above the places of receipt and delivery showed concentrations in excess of the requirements of the Statutory Order. Subject to the limited extent of the material these types do not seem to constitute a major risk of exceeding the requirements.

Considerable sink effects were found in a number of measuring sites. The results confirm previous observations of this phenomenon in apartments situated above dry-cleaning facilities. It cannot be denied that there may be an undetected indoor climate problem in some apartments in buildings that have previously housed dry-cleaning facilities.

Besides, the examination documents the importance of being able to use the tracer gas method developed by Eurofins Danmark A/S when evaluating the contribution of cleaning liquid from dry-cleaning facilities to apartment.