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

Trichloroethylene Toxicity
What is Trichloroethylene?

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this section, you should be able to:

• explain what TCE is.

Definition

TCE (Cl₂C=CHCl) is a clear, colorless, nonflammable liquid possessing a sweet, fruity odor characteristic of chloroform. The odor threshold is approximately 100 parts per million (ppm) (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 1997).

Uses

Estimated use patterns suggest that 80% of TCE is used for vapor degreasing of fabricated metal parts in the automotive and metal industries.
Consumer products that contain TCE include:

• adhesives
• spot removers
• cleaning fluids for rugs
• paint removers/strippers
• typewriter correction fluids

Other Uses

Before its ban for certain applications in 1977, TCE was also used as a general (mostly obstetric) anesthetic, grain fumigant, disinfectant, pet food additive, and extractant of spices in foods and caffeine in coffee (Candura and Faustman 1991.)

Synonyms

Trichloroethylene is also known as

• acetylene trichloride
• ethylene trichloride
• TCE
• Tri
• trichloroethene

Trade names for trichloroethylene include:

• Benzinol
• Circosolve
• Flock Fli,
• Narcogen
• Perm-A-Chlor
• Tri-clene
• Vestrol

Key Points

• TCE is used mainly for vapor degreasing of fabricated metal parts in the automotive and metal industries.

Progress Check