Most exposure occurs through inhalation and dermal contact as an industrial contaminant. More than 80% of the pce produced is used in the dry cleaning industry. The uk has prepared a comprehensive risk assessment report rar for tetrachloroethylene eu rar 2001, 2007, which has been discussed in the eu. The health part of the document is of good quality, it is comprehensive, and the exposure and effects assessment follow the technical guidance document. Trichloroethylene 79016 hazard summary most of the trichloroethylene used in the united states is released into the atmosphere from industrial degreasing operations. Tetrachloroethylene exposure and bladder cancer risk. Sampling and analytical methods tetrachloroethylene. Biological exposure assessment to tetrachloroethylene for workers. Pdf the purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting biological tetrachloroethylene perchloroethylene, pce exposure assessments. Risk of breast cancer following exposure to tetrachloroethylene contaminated drinking water in cape cod, massachusetts. The international programme on chemical safety ipcs, established in 1980, is a joint venture of the united nations environment programme unep, the international labour organization ilo, and the world health organization who.
Tetrachloroethylene has been measured in a range of biota and food products. Tetrachloroethylene, also known under the systematic name tetrachloroethene, or perchloroethylene, and many other names and abbreviations such as perc or perc, and pce, is a chlorocarbon with the formula cl 2 cccl 2. The assessment of whether tetrachloroethylene is toxic, as defined under cepa, was based on the determination of whether it enters or is likely to enter the canadian environment in a concentration or quantities or under conditions that could lead to exposure of humans or other biota to levels that could cause harmful effects. In such cases, please contact the mnnei sota posion. Other pertinent literature is also presented, but is described in less detail than the key studies.
Biological exposure assessment to tetrachloroethylene for. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting biological tetrachloroethylene perchloroethylene, pce exposure assessments of dry cleaning employees in conjunction with evaluation of possible pce health effects. Tetrachloroethylene minnesota department of health. The concentrations observed are due to exposure to tetrachloroethylene via surface water for aquatic species, surface water and atmospheric deposition for plants and atmospheric emissions for foodstuffs not accumulation in the food chain. Ors based on the jem exposure assessment 405 exposed cases also increased with increasing exposure index, although they were less pronounced.
The modeling effort includes multimedia transport and transformation models, exposure scenario models, and efforts to quantify and reduce uncertainty in multimedia, multiplepathway exposure models. Tetrachloroethylene perchloroethylene 127184 hazard summary tetrachloroethylene is widely used for drycleaning fabrics and metal degreasing operations. Lifecycle assessment lca aims to assess all environmental impacts from cradle to grave. Navy and marine corps public health center resource on perchloroethylene tetrachloroethylene or pce that addresses its properties, uses, populations at risk of adverse health effects due to exposure, and the distribution of. Pdf biological exposure assessment to tetrachloroethylene for. Chemical assessment summary national center for environmental assessment. This is a severe drawback, because neglecting occupational health effects may result in product or process optimizations at the expense of workers. Information concerning all of these topics is combined in an assessment of the risks of exposure to tetra chloroethylene for various subpopulationp. We registered also changes over time in occupational exposure limits oels to tetrachloroethylene. Guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment, tetrachloroethylene is likely to be carcinogenic in humans by all routes of exposure.
Nevertheless, existing methods for lifecycle impact assessment lcia generally do not consider impacts from chemical exposure at the workplace. Mdh risk assessment advice raa for pce in air is 2 micrograms of pce per cubic meter of. The present analyses compare exposure prevalence and risk estimates derived by different exposure assessment methods. Workers may be harmed from exposure to tetrachloroethylene. Apr 15, 2008 the purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting biological tetrachloroethylene perchloroethylene, pce exposure assessments of dry cleaning employees in conjunction with evaluation of possible pce health effects. Mar 21, 2014 for men, ors based on the jtem exposure assessment increased with exposure index. Tetrachloroethylene is used primarily in the dry cleaning industry and for textile processing.
What is perchloroethylene tetrachloroethylene or pce. European union system for the evaluation of substances software tool in support of. Assessment of environmental exposure to trichloroethylene. Following epa 2005a guidelines for carcinogen risk assessment, tetrachloroethylene is likely to be carcinogenic in humans by all routes of exposure. Biographic information on the committee on tetrachloroethylene sam kacew chair is a professor in the department of cellular and molecular medicine, faculty of medicine, and associate director of toxicology at the mclaughlin centre for population health risk assessment of the university of ottawa. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 1. It is also used as an insulating fluid in the production of fluorocarbons and, to a lesser extent, in the production of adhesives, aerosols, and paint.
Prenatal and early childhood exposure to tetrachloroethylene. Effects resulting from acute short term highlevel inhalation exposure of humans to tetrachloroethylene include irritation of the upper. Relatively crude exposure assessment approaches in the studies of tetrachloroethylene exposed workers may have attenuated the relative risks. Exposure and risk assessment for tetrachloroethylene. Tetrachloroethylene is a high production volume hpv chemical, which has been prioritised for risk assessment within the former eu existing substances regulation. We performed literature searches in medline, toxline, nioshtic, and the niosh health hazard evaluation databases using relevant search terms. Toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of tetrachloroethylene perchloroethylene cas no. May 31, 2017 what is perchloroethylene tetrachloroethylene or pce. Biographic information on the committee on tetrachloroethylene. For women 40 exposed cases, results based only on the jem exposure assessment were reported, and no upward trend was observed. The primary routes of potential human exposure to tetrachloroethylene are inhalation and ingestion of contaminated water or food.
Assessment of environmental exposure to trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene ljiljana skender and vi. Exposure to pce is carcinogenic for rodents, inducing liver cancer in mice. Health assessment document for tetrachloroethylene perchloroethylene. Center for environmental health, bureau of toxic substance assessment. This may be a synopsis of the full weightofevidence narrative. Appendix b documents the essential design features, exposure assessment. Pce in blood is the preferred biological index to monitor exposures, but may make recruitment difficult. June 24, 2008 the dow chemical company page 3 of 7 fluorinated compounds. Environmental exposure assessments environmental health. These documents provide information on the health effects of. Quantitative estimate of carcinogenic risk from oral exposure pdf 38 pp, 350 k. The phg is based on carcinogenic effects observed in experimental animals. These documents provide information on the health effects of exposure, the chemicals toxicity and. These effects are intensified and include incoordination and drunkenness when concentrations exceed 600 ppm.
Prepared by the office of health and environmental assessment, environmental criteria and assessment office, research triangle. Pdf biological exposure assessment to tetrachloroethylene. Exposure to tetrachloroethylene may cause irritation eyes, skin, nose, throat, and respiratory system. Tetrachloroethylene an overview sciencedirect topics.
Trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and some other. Environmental data and biologic evaluation of exposure. Because it is stored in the bodys fat and slowly released into the bloodstream, tetrachloroethylene can be detected in the breath for weeks following a heavy exposure. Perchloroethylene also called pce is a colorless, nonflammable manmade liquid. Perchloroethylene hazards profile characterising perchloroethylene based on its inherent hazards is an essential component of conducting an alternatives assessment. The following guidance was developed by the minnesota department of health mdh in 2014 in response to vapor intrusion investigations conducted by the minnesota pollution control agency mpca. Tetrachloroethylene perc exposure and visual contrast sensitivity vcs test performance in adults and children residing in buildings with or without a dry cleaner.
The advcie may not apply to acute, large exposures to these chemcials. It is a colorless liquid widely used for dry cleaning of fabrics, hence it is sometimes called drycleaning fluid. Researchers conducting these types of studies will be able to use results of the measurements to quantify tetrachloroethylene exposure levels for various jobs. It has a sweet odor detectable by most people at a. Overexposure to tetrachloroethylene through inhalation can affect the central nervous system and liver. Pdf tetrachloroethylene exposure and bladder cancer risk. Releases occur into all media but mostly into the air due to its volatility.
Only scattered measurements were available from the early years, and the exposure level seemed fairly stable up until the mid 1970s. Firefighting measures suitable extinguishing media. Tetrachloroethylene exposure can be evaluated by a breath test, analogous to breathalcohol measurements. Sep 26, 2019 the atsdr toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for the hazardous substance described here. The atsdr toxicological profile succinctly characterizes the toxicologic and adverse health effects information for the hazardous substance described here. The overall objectives of the ipcs are to establish the scientific basis for assessment of the risk. Dermal exposure also may occur, but is not important for the. Eighteen women from four dry cleaning facilities in southwestern ohio were monitored in a pilot study of workers with pce exposure. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of conducting biological. Opinion on risk assessment report on tetrachloroethylene. Safety data sheet perchloroethylene all grades version 1. There are experimental and epidemiological data suggesting a carcinogenic potential of perc iarc 1995. Perchloroethylene is a basic raw material in the manufacture of hydrofluorocarbons hfc 4a and 125, alternatives to chlorofluorocarbon cfc and hydrochlorofluorocarbon hcfc refrigerants.
Methods in the context of a casecontrol study conducted in seven european countries, exposure was estimated for asbestos, diesel motor emissions dme and crystalline silica, using three different assessment methods. Confronting workplace exposure to chemicals with lca. A number of the neurotoxic effects of tetrachloroethylene appear well correlated with parent compound concentrations at the target site bushnell et al. Exposure assessment in populationbased, casecontrol studies is a complex process requiring substantial resources. Use an extinguishing media appropriate for surrounding fire.
It may also cause liver damage and is a potential occupational carcinogen. Subsport specific substances alternatives assessment. The uk has prepared a comprehensive risk assessment report rar for tetrachloroethylene eu. Tetrachloroethylene was considered by previous iarc working groups in 1979, 1987, and. All these agents were previously assessed by iarc working groups more. Atsdr assessed 16 diseases in its document atsdr assessment of the evidence for the drinking water contaminants at camp lejeune and specific cancers and other diseases pdf icon. This volume of the iarc monographs provides an assessment of the carcinogenic hazards associated with exposure to seven chlorinated solvents, including trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and their metabolites dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and chloral hydrate. Biological exposure assessment to tetrachloroethylene for workers in the dry cleaning industry article pdf available in environmental health 71. Tetrachloroethylene is widely used in the drycleaning industry, and exposure of women is common, especially in small businesses where industrial hygienic practices may be inadequate.
Navy and marine corps public health center resource on perchloroethylene tetrachloroethylene or pce that addresses its properties, uses, populations at risk of adverse health effects due to exposure, and the distribution of pce in the environment. Therefore, not everyone who is exposed to trichloroethylene tce, tetrachloroethylene pce, benzene, or vinyl chloride exposure will develop a health problem. The primary sources releasing tce into the environment are metal cleaning and degreasing operations. Environmental exposure assessments the public health toxicology program in the virginia department of healths office of environmental health services, works with communities and various state and federal agency officials to determine if contaminants in the environment are a health hazard. These targets include the central nervous system, kidney, liver, immune and hematologic system, and development and reproduction. Tetrachloroethylene perchloroethylene casrn 127184 iris. Exposure tetrachloroethylene is widely distributed in the environment, because it is released from many industrial processes and consumer products. Acute shortterm and chronic longterm inhalation exposure to trichloroethylene can affect the human central nervous system cns, with symptoms such as dizziness.
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