Posted on 01/25/2007 4:19:18 PM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist
It's The Nation's First Statewide Ban Of The Chemical
(AP) SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California regulators on Thursday enacted the nation's first statewide ban on the most common chemical used by dry cleaners, pleasing environmentalists but worrying some small businesses.
By 2023, no more dry-cleaning machines that use the toxic solvent perchloroethylene, a potential carcinogen, will be permitted in the state.
The regulation by the California Air Resources Board will phase out the fluid next year, banning dry cleaners from buying machines that rely on the solvent. The state's 3,400 dry cleaners who now use it must get rid of machines that are 15 years or older by July 2010.
"Dry cleaners have known this is a problem for quite some time," board member Dorene D'Adamo said. "There is a cost to society, and believe me taxpayers are paying for it."
The rule was embraced by environmental and health advocates, who urged the board to accelerate the ban because of the chemical's health effects. The solvent has contaminated one in 10 wells in California.
Meanwhile, cleaners said eliminating the most common dry cleaning solvent could drive them out of business because alternative methods are unproven and more costly.
"It could shut down some mom-and-pop operations -- the little guys that can't afford it," said Bob Blackburn, president of the California Cleaners Association.
I hate my state.
I hope California doesnt find out that breathing puts out Carbon Dioxide, or they will ban breathing.
Just another in a long line of California Banishments.
Land of Fruits and Nuts.
"By 2023, no more dry-cleaning machines that use the toxic solvent perchloroethylene, a potential carcinogen, will be permitted in the state"
At the rate they're going, no one in that state will be in need of a clean suit by 2023 anyway
BUMP
California should just cut to the chase and ban everything.
It would save a lot of trees they cut down to print these laws on.
It seems that California will ban anything and everything except illegal aliens.
There is more than ample evidence that Liberalism causes cancer, spreads AIDS and fosters religious bigotry. Can we ban it?
Unelected tyrants.
The article refers to perchloroethylene as a "potential carcinogen" but there has never been any medical studies that show conclusively that it is. Another triumph for junk science.
ok, I will buy nothing dry cleanable.
I am getting so damn sick of this Cr@p...
If this chemical is indeed a carcinogen, I for one don't want it on my or my family's clothes.
Do you?
"California should just cut to the chase and ban everything.
It would save a lot of trees they cut down to print these laws on."
very true.
We'll be washing our clothes in the river like they do in Indonesia and other countries (hope no one is taking a crap upstream). It's called globalism, where every country wallows in the same misery, worldwide. Something that is being promoted right here at home. Welcome to the 21st century.
Invest in companies that make washable suits
A dry cleaning establishment spilled some of this chemical into the ground near where I live. It poisoned a good portion of the local water table, depriving many of drinking water. I don't think I have a problem with it being banned.
The groundwater problem comes solely from mishandling of dry cleaning waste. I thought that was almost completely taken care of by now. Were all dry cleaning to end tomorrow, there would still be an increase in the trichloroethylene in groundwater for quite a while from what was already in sewage systems from years and years ago.
Somebody who comes up with a bacteria that eats this stuff would be rich overnight.
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