Here’s What You Need to Know About the Dangerous Chemical Perchloroethylene
Renee Matheson 
While the name might not be familiar to the public, perchloroethylene (or PCE for short) is a chemical found in many places. For residents of Camp Lejeune, PCE was not just an additive but a contaminant in their drinking water.
If you’ve been a victim of Camp Lejeune water contamination, then reach out to Lawsuit Legal News to make sure that you are compensated for the damages that you had to deal with.
The law firm, started in 2004 by Matthew A. Dolman, has its presence all across Florida and in other states like Texas, Illinois, New York, and Texas. The firm has helped clients win millions in compensation, with the most recent ones being $5 million for a burn injury and $2.25 million for a traumatic brain injury.
What is Perchloroethylene?
PCE is a clear liquid used for dry cleaning and in other industrial processes. It is used for degreasing metals, in refrigerants, and to produce certain chemicals. Sure, PCE is non-flammable and does a good job of cleaning, but its downside worries us.
What is PCE Used for?
PCE is used largely for metal degreasing and in textile dry cleaning, scouring, or sizing fabric.
PCE is also used in chemical synthesis to make other chemicals (especially the refrigerant R-115 and high-purity tetramethylenesulfone) and as a solvent for adhesives, rubber gums, and electrical insulating fluid.
PCE is also found in many products include:
- Aerosols
- Solvent soaps
- Printing inks
- Adhesives
- Glues
- Sealants
- Paint removers
- Paper coatings
- Rubber coatings
- Water repellents
- Leather treatments
- Automotive cleaners
- Polishes
- Lubricants
- Silicones
- Typewriter correction fluid
- Textile processing
- Spot removers
- Wood cleaners
- Shoe polish
The Dangers of PCE Exposure
PCE is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a probable carcinogen. Common health effects linked to long-term exposure include:
- Kidney cancer and some types of leukemia
- Birth defects
- Liver damage
- Neurological problems
Children and pregnant women are at higher risk of the consequences that environmental toxins pose.
Exposure to PCE?
Individuals are most likely to be exposed through the air where PCE is manufactured and used in dry cleaning, or if it inadvertently finds its way into drinking water supplies by accidental leakage when the product has not been closed properly.
Although newer dry-cleaning technologies have minimized occupational exposure to PCE, they continue to be largely dispelled into groundwater from factories and dry-cleaning facilities.
If you live near such a facility or an uncontrolled hazardous waste site where PCE has been disposed of, your drinking water may become contaminated.
Camp Lejeune and the PCE Contamination Crisis
The drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was contaminated with multiple volatile organic compounds, including PCE. Contamination is thought to have originated from liquid waste pipelines near the industrial outfits nearby. This resulted in the exposure of tens of thousands of Marines, their families, and civilian workers who were stationed at Camp Lejeune.
If you or a family member have fallen ill after living at Camp Lejeune between 1953 and 1987, know that compensation may be available to you under The Camp Lejeune Justice Act. Reach out to an experienced lawyer to know what your options are.
