| Agent Name |
Tetrachloroethylene |
|---|
| Alternative Name |
Perchloroethylene |
|---|
| CAS Number |
127-18-4 |
|---|
| Formula |
C2-Cl4 |
|---|
| Major Category |
Solvents |
|---|
| Synonyms |
1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethene; 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethylene; Ankilostin; Antisol 1; Carbon bichloride; Carbon dichloride; Czterochloroetylen [Polish]; Didakene; Dilatin PT; Dow-per; Ethene, tetrachloro-; Ethylene tetrachloride; Ethylene, tetrachloro-; Fedal-UN; PCE; PERK; Perawin; Perc; Perchloorethyleen, per [Dutch]; Perchlor; Perchloraethylen, per [German]; Perchlorethylene; Perchlorethylene, per [French]; Perchloroethylene; Perclene; Perclene D; Percloroetilene [Italian]; Percosolv; Percosolve; Perklone; Persec; Tetlen; Tetracap; Tetrachlooretheen [Dutch]; Tetrachloraethen [German]; Tetrachlorethylene; Tetrachloroethene; Tetrachloroethylene; Tetrachloroethylene (IUPAC); Tetracloroetene [Italian]; Tetraguer; Tetraleno; Tetralex; Tetravec; Tetroguer; Tetropil; [ChemIDplus] UN1897 |
|---|
| Category |
Chlorinated Solvents |
|---|
| Description |
Colorless liquid with a mild, chloroform-like odor; [NIOSH] |
|---|
| Sources/Uses |
Primary dry cleaning solvent being used today; [Ladou, p. 510] Used in dry cleaning, metal degreasing, as a chemical intermediate, and in typewriter correction fluids; [HSDB] |
|---|
| Comments |
Perchloroethylene can induce anesthesia. Liver and kidney injury have been reported after accidental exposures to high concentrations. [ACGIH] Tetrachloroethylene causes "trivial hepatotoxicity, unless exposure is very heavy or agent ingested." [Zimmerman, p. 333] Perchloroethylene causes skeletal abnormalities in high-dose reproductive studies of mice. Increased spontaneous abortion rates were found in occupationally exposed women in Finland but not in other countries studied (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden). [Frazier, p. 182-3] Perchloroethylene 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] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; May cause kidney and liver injury; Inhalation of high concentrations can cause CNS depression; [ICSC] |
|---|
| Reference Link |
ATSDR - ToxFAQs - Tetrachloroethylene |
|---|
| Exposure Assessment |
|---|
| BEI |
Perc in end-exhaled air = 5 ppm; perc in blood = 0.5 mg/L; sample prior to last shift of workweek; TCA in urine = 3.5 mg/L, sample end of shift at end of workweek; See 2008 Notice of Intended Changes; [ACGIH] |
|---|
| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
|---|
| TLV (ACGIH) |
25 ppm |
|---|
| STEL (ACGIH) |
100 ppm |
|---|
| PEL (OSHA) |
100 ppm, Ceiling(OSHA) = 200 ppm(300 ppm is 5-min peak in any 3 hrs) |
|---|
| IDLH (NIOSH) |
150 ppm |
|---|
| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
It has been reported that 2,000 ppm caused slight narcosis in 5 minutes; 930�1185 ppm caused irritation of the eyes and throat, and marked dizziness after 2 minutes; 1,000 ppm caused slight drunkenness, but no narcosis after 95 minutes; 513�690 ppm caused eye, throat, and nose irritation, dizziness, loss of inhibition, and some incoordination after 10 minutes; 500 ppm for 2 hours caused slight discomfort; 206�356 ppm for 2 hours caused headache, burning of the eyes, sinus congestion, impaired coordination, and nausea; 206�235 ppm for 20�30 minutes caused eye irritation, sinus congestion, dizziness, and sleepiness; and 106 ppm caused only slight eye irritation [Negherbon 1959; Rowe et al. 1952]. |
|---|
| Vapor Pressure |
18.5 mm Hg |
|---|
| Odor Threshold Low |
2 ppm |
|---|
| Odor Threshold High |
71 ppm |
|---|
| Lethal Concentration |
LC50 (rats) = 34,200 mg/m3/8H |
|---|
| Explanatory Notes |
Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 47 ppm); Odor threshold = 1 ppm; [ATSDR ToxFAQs] |
|---|
| Half Life |
Blood: 96 hours; trichloroascetic acid in urine: 80 hours (may be longer depending upon fat deposition); [TDR, p. 1010] |
|---|
| Reference Link |
ATSDR Medical Management - Tetrachloroethylene |
|---|
| Flammability (NFPA) |
0: will not burn |
|---|
| Adverse Effects |
|---|
| Neurotoxin |
CNS Solvent Syndrome |
|---|
| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
|---|
| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
|---|
| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
|---|
| IARC Carcinogen |
Probable Carcinogen |
|---|
| Links to Other NLM Databases |
|---|
| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: TETRACHLOROETHYLENE
|
|---|
|
|
