Effects On Environmental Health
Perchloroethylene evaporates when exposed to air. It dissolves only slightly
when mixed with water. Most direct releases of PERC to the environment
are to air. It also evaporates from water and soil exposed to air. Once
in air, PERC breaks down to other chemicals over several weeks. Because
it is a liquid that does not bind well to soil, PERC that makes its way
into the ground can move through the ground and enter groundwater. Plants
and animals living in environments contaminated with PERC can store small
amounts of the chemical.(United States Environmental Protection Agency
1997)
Perchloroethylene by itself is not likely to cause environmental
harmful levels normally found in the 
environment.
PERC can contribute to the formation of photochemical smog when it reacts
with other volatile organic carbon (VOC) substances in air. These
reactions tend to eliminate PERC before it reaches the upper atmosphere
in amounts sufficient to damage the ozone layer Environment Canada, 1997).
PERC Imports and Uses in 1994;
1 PERC emissions from feedstock uses are minimal
2 Issue table on the degreasing sector
3 Insufficient data was available to determine
quantities of Perc recycled and disposed
(CEPA, 1996.)
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