WASHINGTON - Like many other memorable science fair projects, it began with a startlingly simple idea: Find out what chemicals remain in dry-cleaned clothing. So the Arlington, Va., high school sophomore went online. She e-mailed three or four chemistry professors across the country, asking for help. Only Paul Roepe, then-chairman of Georgetown University’s chemistry department, seemed intrigued. He took on the research “for fun,’’ he said. But that prompted a chain reaction in the university lab: an e-mail exchange, an invitation to collaborate and, last month, a paper published online in a peer-reviewed environmental journal. The paper gives new details about the amount of a toxic chemical that lingers in clothing after it is dry-cleaned. The research team found that perchloroethylene, a solvent linked to cancer and neurological damage, stayed in the fabrics and that levels increased with repeat cleanings, particularly in wool. The study was published online in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Between 65 and 70 percent of the country’s estimated 25,000 dry cleaning facilities use the solvent, known as PCE or perc, industry representatives said. Government regulations and voluntary industry guidelines exist for atmospheric concentrations in the workplace, and there has been a long-running fight between environmentalists and the federal government over how quickly the chemical should be phased out for dry cleaners.
First of all, this kid better have gotten an A, I mean most students just mail it in for their science projects, like the time my friend Penny Packer pretended to test the hypothesis of whether a basketball would bounce higher inflated or deflated (yes I'll mention that every change I get).
Second of all, I know this is the first time anyone has ever studied this, but I mean, what did you think they were doing back there with your clothes? There were basically two options, either A) They weren't doing anything, just spraying a little febreeze and telling you they cleaned the clothes, or B) Using harmful chemicals that magically clean your clothes without the use of water, but have side effects that may cause cancer.
I mean, you had to know that, right? These people aren't miracle workers, there aren't teams of underage Chinese kids out back beating the stink out of your clothes with magical sticks, they're obviously using chemicals, and besides, everything causes cancer these days, the cup of coffee I just drank will probably cause cancer, might as well have clean looking and smelling clothes at least...
