| Agent Name |
Trichloroethylene |
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| CAS Number |
79-01-6 |
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| Formula |
C2-H-Cl3 |
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| Major Category |
Solvents |
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| Synonyms |
Trichloroethene; Ethylene trichloride; Trilene; TCE; [NIOSH] TRI; Acetylene trichloride; Benzinol; Circosolve; Flock Flip; Narcogen; Perm-A-Chlor; Tri-clene; Tri-lene; Vestrol; [ATSDR Case Studies# 6] |
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| Category |
Chlorinated Solvents |
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| Description |
Colorless liquid (unless dyed blue) with a chloroform-like odor; [NIOSH] |
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| Sources/Uses |
Before being banned in 1977, TCE was used as an anesthetic, a solvent, and a grain fumigant; [ATSDR Case Studies #6] |
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| Comments |
TCE as "Tri-lene" was a popular self-administered obstetric anesthetic. "It was discovered that alkali in rebreathing systems could lead to the production of dichloroacetylene, which produced cranial nerve injuries." Exposure to TCE concurrent with alcohol consumption can cause "degreaser's flush," a temporary flushing of the neck and face. Hepatotoxicity has been associated primarily with intentional TCE inhalation abuse. Renal failure has been reported. [ATSDR Case Studies: Trichloroethylene Toxicity] "Liver toxicity can occur after prolonged inhalation of high concentrations of trichloroethylene. Ingestion of alcohol may increase this risk. However, liver effects have not been reported in acute-duration human exposure studies, although some older case reports have provided limited evidence of liver damage." [ATSDR Medical Management] Trichloroethylene is in the list of "Some volatile substances which may be abused by inhalation" published on the web site of the U.N. International Drug Control Programme, indicating its potential to cause narcosis in workers.[Flanagan et al. Volatile Substance Abuse] |
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| Restricted |
Banned in the US in 1977; |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management - Trichloroethylene |
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| BEI |
Trichloroacetic acid in urine = 15 mg/L at end of shift at end of workweek; (See other BEIs and notations in ACGIH "TLVs and BEIs." |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
10 ppm |
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| STEL (ACGIH) |
25 ppm |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
100 ppm, Ceiling(OSHA) = 200 ppm(300 ppm for 5-min peak in any 2 hrs) |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
1000 ppm |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
Other human data: Exposure of eight volunteers for 2 hours to 1,000 ppm resulted in decrements in visual perception and motor skills, but 2�hour exposures to 100 and 300 ppm did not [Vernon and Ferguson 1969]. Tachypnea and ventricular arrhythmias have been equated with inhaled concentrations greater than 15,000 ppm during usage as an anesthetic [Vernon and Ferguson 1969] |
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| Vapor Pressure |
58 mm Hg |
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| Odor Threshold Low |
0.5 ppm |
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| Odor Threshold High |
167 ppm |
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| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 4,800 ppm/4 hr |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 82 ppm); National Research Council [NRC 1988] Emergency Exposure Guidance Levels (EEGLs): 1�hour EEGL: 200 ppm; |
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| Half Life |
Whole body: 53 hours; for trichloroethanol in blood: 12 hours; for trichloroacetic acid in urine: 75 hours; [TDR, p. 1181] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR - ToxFAQs - Trichloroethylene (TCE) |
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| Flammability (NFPA) |
1: must be preheated |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Neurotoxin |
CNS Solvent Syndrome |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Probable Carcinogen |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: TRICHLOROETHYLENE
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