Associate Editor

Last month, California/s air quality regulators banned a chemical that/s been used for dry cleaning since the 1930s because it/s been deemed carcinogenic and has contaminated 10 percent of the state/s wells.

California became the first state to ban perchloroethylene 7 commonly called &#8220percC in the dry cleaning industry 7 when the Air Resources Board enacted new regulations in mid-January.

Opponents said the ban would put small dry cleaning businesses out of business, because replacing machines that use perchloroethylene would be extremely expensive.

But some local dry cleaners aren/t that concerned about the ban because it doesn/t go into full effect until 2023, and the most immediate effect is that cleaning companies must get rid of machines that are 15 years old or older by the year 2010.

&#8220It shouldn/t hurt us,C said Sue Robinson, owner of Robinson/s Dry Cleaner, Alterations & Laundry in Lompoc. &#8220You only have to get rid of machines that are 15 years old or more, and I got mine two years ago.

&#8220By the year 2023 when my machine/s that old, I/m going to be retired,C she said.

The year 2023 is when no more machines using perc will be allowed in the state. By that time, all dry cleaners will have to use one or more of several alternative cleaning solvents currently available.

Most dry cleaner operators 7 even those no longer using perc 7 say none of the alternatives works as well as the banned solvent, even though some cost about one-third as much as perc.

&#8220People are going to be sorry (perchloroethylene was banned) because perc is the best cleaning fluid,C Robinson said.

Dry cleaning industry representatives who opposed the ban said it will hurt small businesses who must either go out of business, absorb the cost of replacing their machines 7 at ,41,000 to ,175,000 each 7 or pass the cost along to customers.

But according to the Air Resources Board, the expense should only add ,1.20 to ,1.60 to the average ,15 dry cleaning bill. And state regulators say the public is already paying a higher price.

They say the cost to society is high. State health officials said perc can cause lymphoma and esophageal, cervical and bladder cancer, as well as problems with the nervous system.

They also note perc has been found in one of every 10 groundwater wells in California, which supports the need to ban it in dry cleaning, although dry cleaners account for only 12 percent of all the perchloroethylene used in the United States.

But dry cleaner operators say the new machines are greatly improved over the older machines.

&#8220I have the new, new machines,C Robinson said. &#8220If there/s a problem with it, I can plug mine into the phone and they can troubleshoot it from New York.C

She added, &#8220I still have to have the machines tested and certified by the EPA, so I don/t know what the difference is.C

Joe Dangourian, owner of Paramount Cleaners and Laundry in Santa Maria, also doubts the need to ban the chemical.

&#8220I/ve been doing this 30 years, and I/m healthy,C Dangourian said.

Dangourian said he also has new &#8220fifth-generationC machines that are closed systems and reuse the solvent rather than releasing it into the air as was done years ago.

&#8220Every load, (the perc) is distilled,C he said, and once it/s been depleted, it must be picked up by a hazardous waste recycling company 7 &#8220the same company that picks up the used oil.C

&#8220The perc we use costs about ,22 a gallon,C Dangourian said. &#8220The (alternative solvent) costs about ,8 a gallon, but it/s not strong enough. Perc cleans much better.

&#8220In 1980, there were no regulations, and perc cost ,2 a gallon,C he added. &#8220Now, the machines are a closed system and it costs ,22 a gallon, but you buy less and it cleans better.C

Mike Hodgson can be reached at 739-2221 or mhodgson@santamariatimes.com.