Summary and conclusions

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

The objective of the project has been to collect information on actual indoor climate concentrations of cleaning liquid vapors in apartments situated above a representative segment of Danish dry-cleaning facilities. In addition, the objective is to compare found concentrations with the situation before the initiatives to minimize indoor climate concentrations 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 vapors 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 or approximately 30 of the 101 dry-cleaning facilities with apartments above. All measurement sites comply, according to the municipality supervision, with Statutory Order No. 532. The material is divided into dry-cleaning facilities that use tetrachloroethylene or hydrocarbons respectively, as cleaning liquid.

26 measurements have been carried out in apartments situated above dry-cleaning facilities that use tetrachloroethylene. These measurements have 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 (the Danish Environmental Protection Agency 2005b).

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

At the 26 measurement sites, the limit value of 0.1 mg/m³has been exceeded at 9 sites. From trace gas measurements at these sites, it could be shown that the contribution from the dry-cleaning facility to the apartment constituted less than the limit value at 7 sites.

At one of the 2 sites where both the indoor climate measurements and the trace gas measurements showed exceeding of limit values, a building technical investigation has been carried out. It showed that the exceeding of the limit values most probably is caused by leakiness in the horizontal divisions between the dry-cleaning facility and the apartment in the secondary room of the dry-cleaning facility. The second site could not be investigated as the dry-cleaning facility in question has been closed down.

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

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

In addition, the examination documents the importance of being able to use the trace gas method developed by Eurofins Miljø A/S when evaluating the contribution of cleaning liquid from a dry-cleaning facility to an apartment.

Based on information from stakeholders, it can be concluded that the initial work for the Statutory Order and the preparation itself has been very positive. The process has been divided into well-planned sub projects with clear objectives which have facilitated the use of the experience gained in one project to initiate new projects. Furthermore, the projects have been supervised by a follow up group with broad professional competence which has made it possible to use the results directly in the work with the Statutory Order.

The early participation of the dry-cleaners trade in the work with the Statutory Order has lead to a constructive cooperation between the trade and the Danish EPA.

It has been the experience of the stakeholders that the Statutory Order can be used by the dry-cleaners trade and that the wanted results can be achieved through the Statutory Order.

Both the branch of trade and the municipal authorities wish to start collection of knowledge and to start a dialog in order to support and unify the authority control of the dry-cleaning facilities and support the dry-cleaners in planning of activities and hereby their continued operation. The knowledge could be passed on as a guide or leaflet with good advice or as an actual training of future dry-cleaners.

The inquired municipal stakeholders recommend that the Statutory Order is maintained after 2008. A revision should comprise a simplification and target the Statutory Order to the technical knowledge and language qualifications of the dry-cleaners.