Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) 

Trichloroethylene Toxicity
How to Use This Course

Introduction

The goal of Case Studies in Environmental Medicine (CSEM) is to increase the primary care provider’s knowledge of hazardous substances in the environment and to aid in the evaluation of potentially exposed patients. This CSEM focuses on trichloroethylene toxicity.

Available Versions

Two versions of the Trichloroethylene Toxicity CSEM are available:

• the HTML version http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/tce/ provides content through the Internet;
• the downloadable PDF version provides content in an electronic, printable format, especially for those who may lack adequate Internet service.

Instructions

To make the most effective use of this course, we recommend that you:

• take the initial check to assess your current knowledge about trichloroethylene toxicity,
• read the title, learning objectives, text, and key points in each section,
• complete the progress check exercises at the end of each section and check your answers,
• complete and submit your assessment and posttest responses online if you wish to obtain continuing education credit.
• Continuing education certificates can be printed immediately upon completion.

Instructional Format

This course is designed to help you learn efficiently. Topics are clearly labeled so that you can skip sections or quickly scan sections you are already familiar with. This labeling will also allow you to use this training material as a handy reference. To help you identify and absorb important content quickly, each section is structured as follows

Title

Serves as a “focus question” that you should be able to answer after completing the section

Learning Objectives

Describes specific content addressed in each section and focuses your attention on important points

Text

Provides the information you need to answer the focus question(s) and achieve the learning objectives

Key Points

Highlights important issues and helps you review

Progress Check exercises

Enables you to test yourself to determine whether you have mastered the learning objectives

Progress Check answers

Provides feedback to ensure you understand the content and can locate information in the text

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the Trichloroethylene Toxicity CSEM, you should be able to:

• explain what trichloroethylene (TCE) is,
• identify sources of trichloroethylene exposure,
• identify the primary route of exposure to trichloroethylene,
• identify the populations most heavily exposed to trichloroethylene,
• identify who is at risk of exposure to trichloroethylene,
• identify the OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) for trichloroethylene,
• identify EPA’s maximum contaminant level (MCL) for trichloroethylene in drinking water,
• explain the two major pathways of trichloroethylene metabolism in the body,
• describe the physiological effects associated with trichloroethylene exposure,
• identify the primary focuses of the exposure history,
• describe the characteristic finding on patient examination,
• describe characteristic clinical presentations of patients with acute or chronic trichloroethylene exposure,
• identify direct and indirect measurements that can assist with diagnosis of trichloroethylene exposure,
• describe the principal treatment strategy for managing trichloroethylene poisoning, and
• describe advice on self care and follow-up care normally provided to patients exposed to trichloroethylene.