GB No. 9, autumn 1992

DRY CLEANERS IN KRAKOW
- ANOTHER THREAT TO THE OZONE LAYER

The chemical compound (C₂Cl₄) used in dry cleaning, happens to be particularly harmful both to human health and the ozone layer. The people working at the dry cleaners' shops have to take a month long holiday every quarter to offset the effects this compound has on their systems.

The dry cleaning technology of the Kraków's plant entails the use of 440kg of (C₂Cl₄) per month. Considering, that the efficiency of the equipment is only 90%, ca. 10% of the chemical - 44kg - is thus being released into the atmosphere on the monthly basis. Apart from that, particularly dirty or stained clothing is being treated with an even more harmful substance - C₂HCl₃.

Barbara Węgrzyn

All articles above were written by students of VI Liceum in Kraków.

Address:

Ozone project-young reporters
VI Liceum
Wąska 7
31-057 Kraków
Poland
E-mail: zmglowac@plkrcy11.bitnet
Coordinator: Maria Głowacka

Edited & transl. by Sigillum Ltd.