Add tetrachloroethylene, better known as PERC, to the list of chemical anagrams that can harm your health. Just like PFOA's harmful attachment to non-stick cookware and microwave popcorn bags, PERC is another toxic chemical hiding in plain sight that's commonly used as a solvent by dry cleaners, a metal degreaser and a component of other chemicals in America.
An upcoming report from an expert panel appointed by the National Academy of Sciences confirmed PERC as a likely human carcinogen, verifying a two-year-old assessment by the EPA. Using the word likely in research-speak means even though there may not be enough concrete evidence to support the notion that exposure to PERC causes cancer in humans, strong evidence (a number of cancers in animals) points to that connection.
And, that may not be the only concern related to PERC and another degreasing chemical, trichloroethylene (TCE). Based on a study of 99 sets of twins, patients exposed to PERC were eight times more likely to battle Parkinson's disease. The Parkinson's risk declined only slightly to more than five times when patients were exposed to TCE.
One more vital reason you need to do your homework to protect your family from the toxic world in which we live.
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Medical News Today February 10, 2010
WebMD February 9, 2010
Los Angeles Times February 7, 2010