Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) at Superfund Sites in Puerto Rico & Vapor Intrusion Concerns

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - May 11, 2015 - PRLog -- During the past 4 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection agency (EPA) has added several sites in Puerto Rico to the Superfund list.  Included in this list are the Cabo Rojo Ground Water Contamination site, the Hormigas Ground Water Plume site and the Corozal Well site.

All three of these additions to the EPA’s Superfund list have been found to contain tetrachloroethylene, commonly referred to as PERC.  Tetrachloroethylene is a manufactured, colorless liquid chemical that has been used widely for dry cleaning, as a chemical intermediate, metal degreaser and as a component of some consumer products.  The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that tetrachloroethylene may reasonably be anticipated to be a carcinogen and the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified it as a Group 2A carcinogen.

Exposure to PERC can occur in some work environments or from air, water, groundwater and soils that have become contaminated, such as at Superfund sites known to contain it. Occupational exposure to PERC primarily occurs in industries using PERC, such as dry cleaning, and in industries that manufacture the chemical.

“People are mainly exposed to PERC by breathing contaminated air or drinking contaminated water and once in the body, it can remain stored in fat tissue,”said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental.  “People can even be exposed to PERC thru a process known as vapor intrusion.  This occurs when homes and buildings are constructed over contaminated soils or groundwater plumes and the chemical migrates into the structure through cracks and openings in the building’s foundation.”

Breathing PERC for even short periods of time can adversely affect the human nervous system.  Inhalation exposure over longer periods of time can cause liver and kidney damage in addition to other health effects.

In Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean, Zimmetry Environmental offers PERC testing services for both outdoor and indoor environments.  They recently sponsored an educational video about PERC and exposure concerns that can be seen at: http://youtu.be/f2Mac3bRfE8



To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their air, environmental and compliance consulting services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com.

About Zimmetry Environmental

Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase IESAs and general environmental consulting services.