Because it is a liquid that does not bind well to soil, PERC that makes its way into the ground can move through the ground and enter groundwater. Plants and animals living in environments contaminated with PERC can store small amounts of the chemical. Effects of perchloroethylene on human health and the environment depend on the amount of PERC present and the length and frequency of exposure. Effects also depend on the health of a person or the condition of the environment when exposure occurs. Breathing PERC for short periods of time can adversely affect the human nervous system.
Effects range from dizziness, fatigue, headaches and sweating to incoordination and unconsciousness.
Contact with PERC liquid or vapor irritates the skin, the eyes, the nose, and the throat. These effects are not likely to occur at levels of PERC that are normally found in the environment. Breathing perchloroethylene over longer periods of time can cause liver and kidney damage in humans. Workers exposed repeatedly to large amounts of PERC in air can also experience memory loss and confusion. Laboratory studies show that PERC causes kidney and liver damage and cancer in animals exposed repeatedly by inhalation and by mouth.