Item - 2007.HL4.3

The Board of Health requested that:

1.         the federal Minister of Health recognize perchloroethylene as a probable carcinogen consistent with leading agencies such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer;

2.         the federal Minister of the Environment eliminate the use of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning in Canada by the earliest date possible and to encourage professional fabric cleaners to replace it with water-based cleaning and other inorganic solvent-based technologies;

3.         the Ontario Ministry of the Environment resume inspections of dry cleaning facilities to ensure compliance with all environmental regulations; and

4.         the Medical Officer of Health:

a.         in collaboration with other City divisions, consult with the dry cleaning industry and other community stakeholders to explore possible options to reduce the use of perchloroethylene in the short term;

b.         to contact existing dry cleaning establishments to advise them that the Board of Health will be considering the feasibility of municipal regulation to phase out the use of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning establishments so that they are aware of this if they are considering investment in their facilities, and, in consultation with Municipal Licensing and Standards staff, to provide similar information to anyone seeking a business licence for a new dry cleaning establishment;

c.         to report to the Board of Health in February 2008, on the feasibility of municipal regulation to phase out the use of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning facilities which are co-located with residential or other sensitive uses; and

d.         in consultation with the General Manager, Toronto Water, to include in his report in February 2008, a summary of Sewer Use By-law compliance by the dry cleaning industry and the potential reduction of perchloroethylene in the sanitary sewer system with the elimination of perchloroethylene in dry cleaning.