New research confirms the link between a chemical commonly used in dry cleaning and cancer – although dry cleaners still have nine years to phase it out.

Perchloroethylene , also known as perc and PCE, is a colorless liquid chemical used as a solvent in dry cleaning. Manufacturers also use it to degrease metal. MORE: Radiation may be unnecessary as an early-stage breast cancer treatment

The Environmental Protection Agency banned PCE in December due to its toxicity to the nervous and reproductive systems and the fact that it lingers as an environmental pollutant. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified PCE as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

The study found exposure to PCE can triple the risk of developing severe scar tissue on the liver (liver fibrosis)

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