ID#: 9453
Caption:
From 1950, this historical photograph was provided by the Center for Disease Control's (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and depicted an African American worker in a dry cleaning establishment using the chemical benzol, a benzene-toluene compound, in order to spot clean a garment. Benzene is a proven carcinogen, and very flammable. In the 1950s, the Industrial Hygiene Division (IHD) investigated hazards in dry cleaning environments. New nonflammable cleaners had recently been introduced that created concerns about their toxicity. As of 2005, there were approximately 36,000 dry cleaning businesses in the U.S. with most employing less than ten people. The focus today is on the perchloroethylene, used as a solvent in 85% of dry cleaning shops. It is carcinogenic in animals and suspected to be so in humans.
High Resolution: Click here for hi-resolution image (5.97 MB)
Content Provider(s): CDC/ Barbara Jenkins, NIOSH
Creation Date: 1950
Photo Credit: Unknown
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Copyright Restrictions: Permission is not required for public domain images, however, these images are provided by CDC and are available for personal, professional, and educational use with appropriate attribution. Redistribution must credit CDC and, where known, the individual photographer, and identify the CDC website as the free source. For additional terms see Use of Agency Materials | Other | CDC