The New York City Advisory Council on Health Priorities, an affiliate of the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH), calls the decision of New York City Public School officials to close an East Harlem school because of findings of trace levels of perchloroethylene, or "perc," in the air "scientifically baseless."
P.S. 141, which once housed a dry-cleaning facility, has been found to have levels of perc that fall well below government safety limits. Tests conducted at the school showed levels ranging from 16 to 36 parts per billion. One part per billion is equivalent to one second of time in 32 years. Nevertheless, because of pressure from parents and School Board members, the school has been shut down.
