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General Description

Synonyms: Perchloroethylene

OSHA IMIS Code Number: 2020
IMIS Name History: Tetrachloroethylene prior to 9/1/89; Perchloroethylene from 9/1/98 through 6/23/04; currently - Tetrachoroethylene.

Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number: 127-18-4

NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances (RTECS) Identification Number: KX3850000

Department of Transportation Regulation Number (49 CFR 172.101) and Guide: 1897 160

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards, Tetrachloroethylene: chemical description, physical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more
Exposure Limits

OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL):
General Industry: 29 CFR 1910.1000 Z-2 Table -- 100 ppm TWA; Also, exposures shall not exceed 200 ppm (ceiling) with the following exception: exposures may exceed 200 ppm, but not more than 300 ppm (peak), for a single time period up to 5 minutes for any 3 hours.

Construction Industry: 29 CFR 1926.55 Appendix A -- 100 ppm, 670 mg/m3 TWA

Maritime: 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards -- 100 ppm, 670 mg/m3 TWA
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV): 25 ppm, 170 mg/m3 TWA; 100 ppm, 685 mg/m3 STEL; Appendix A3 - Confirmed Animal Carcinogen with Unknown Relevance to Humans

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Recommended Exposure Limit (REL): Appendix A - NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens

Health Factors

Carcinogenic Classification:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Group B/C, probable/possible human carcinogen

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): Group 2A, probably carcinogenic to humans [4 MB PDF, 63 pages]

National Toxicology Program (NTP): Reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogen [180 KB PDF, 3 pages]
NIOSH Immediately Dangerous To Life or Health Concentration (IDLH): 150 ppm

Potential Symptoms: Eye, nose, throat, respiratory system; coughing, shortness of breath, pulmonary edema; irritation; nausea; flushed face, neck; dizziness, incoordination; headache; drowsiness, unconsciousness; skin erythema, drying, cracking, mild to moderate burning sensation, dermatitis; liver damage; impaired color vision [potential occupational carcinogen] INGES ACUTE: Vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stool, loss of muscle control.

Health Effects: Cumulative liver and CNS damage (HE3); Narcosis (HE8); Mutagen (HE2)

Affected Organs: Liver, kidneys, eyes, skin, respiratory system, CNS

Notes:
  1. Major exposure is to dry-cleaning workers, a group with excessive cancer mortality in some studies.
  2. Exposure can be determined by measuring perchloroethylene in expired air, blood or urine; or the major metabolite in urine, trichloroacetic acid. Some metabolites may be toxic to the liver or kidneys.
Date Last Revised: 04/26/2004

Literature Basis:
  • NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Tetrachloroethylene.
  • International Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO): Tetrachloroethylene.
  • EPA Air Toxics Website: Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technology Transfer Network.
  • Gobba, F., Righi, E., Fantuzzi, G., Roccatto, L., Predieri, G., and Aggazzotti, G.: Perchloroethylene in alveolar air, blood, and urine as biologic indices of low-level exposure. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 45(11): 1152-1157, 2003.
  • Gobba, F., Righi, E., Fantuzzi, G., Predieri, G., Cavazzuti, L. and Aggazzotti, G.: Two-year evolution of perchloroethylene-induced color-vision loss. Arch. Environ. Health 53(3): 196-198, 1998.
  • Lash, L.H. and Parker, J.C.: Hepatic and renal toxicities associated with perchlorethylene. Pharmacol. Rev. 53(2): 177-208, 2001.
  • Mundt, K.A., Birk, T. and Burch, M.T.: Critical review of the epidemiological literature on occupational exposure to perchloroethylene and cancer. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health 76(7): 473-491, 2003.
  • Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Tetrachloroethylene. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp. 2166-2169.
  • Ruder, A.M., Ward, E.M. and Brown, D.P.: Mortality in dry-cleaning workers: an update. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39(2): 121-132, 2001.
  • Völkel, W., Friedewald, M., Lederer, E., Pähler, A., Parker, J. and Dekant, W.: Biotransformation of perchloroethylene: dose-dependent excretion of trichloroacetic acid, dichloroacetic acid, and N-acetyl-S-(trichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine in rats and humans after inhalation. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 153(1): 20-27, 1998.
Monitoring Methods used by OSHA

Laboratory Sampling/Analytical Method:
  • sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh)
    analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide
    alternative solvent: 99:1 Carbon Disulfide:Dimethylformamide
    maximum volume: 12 Liters
    maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (TWA)
    minimum time: >5 Minutes
    maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (Ceiling)
    minimum time: >1 Minute
    maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (Peak)
    current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 1001)
    method classification: Fully Validated
  • sampling media: Diffusive Sampler (SKC 575-002 Passive Sampler)
    analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide
    minimum time: ≤ 240 Minutes (TWA)
    minimum time: > 5 Minutes (Ceiling)
    minimum time: ≥ 5 Minutes (Peak)
    current analytical method: Gas Chromatography; GC/FID
    method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 1001)
    method classification: Fully Validated
On-Site Sampling Techniques/Methods:
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: AUER/MSA
    model/type: Per-10, MSA P/N 487337, AUER P/N 5085-840
    sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
    upper measurement limit: 500 ppm
    detection limit: approximately 10 ppm
    overall uncertainty: unknown
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: AUER/MSA
    model/type: Per-5, MSA P/N 804429, AUER P/N 5085-865
    sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
    upper measurement limit: 200 ppm
    detection limit: approximately 5 ppm
    overall uncertainty: unknown
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Dräger
    model/type: Tetrachloroethylene 0.1/a, order no. 81 01551
    sampling information: 3/9 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 4/1 ppm
    detection limit: 0.5/0.2 ppm
    overall uncertainty: approximately 33%
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Dräger
    model/type: Tetrachloroethylene 2/a, order no. 81 01501
    sampling information: 1/5 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 300/40 ppm
    detection limit: approximately 20/2 ppm
    overall uncertainty: approximately 25%
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Dräger
    model/type: Tetrachloroethylene 10/b, order no. CH 30701
    sampling information: 3 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 500 ppm
    detection limit: approximately 5 ppm
    overall uncertainty: approximately 25%
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Gastec
    model/type: 133HA
    sampling information: 4 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 50 ppm
    detection limit: 0.05 ppm
    overall uncertainty: 16% for 0.2 to 10 ppm, 8% for 10 to 50 ppm
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Gastec
    model/type: 172
    sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 900 ppm
    detection limit: 0.5 ppm
    overall uncertainty: 16% for 20 to 100 ppm, 8% for 100 to 300 ppm
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Gastec
    model/type: 133M
    sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 250 ppm
    detection limit: 0.4 ppm
    overall uncertainty: 16% for 5 to 20 ppm, 8% for 20 to 100 ppm
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Gastec
    model/type: 133L
    sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 75 ppm
    detection limit: 0.4 ppm
    overall uncertainty: 16% for 2 to 5 ppm, 8% for 5 to 25 ppm
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Gastec
    model/type: 133LL
    sampling information: 0.5 to 2 strokes
    upper measurement limit: 9 ppm
    detection limit: 0.05 ppm
    overall uncertainty: 16% for 0.2 to 1 ppm, 8% for 1 to 3 ppm
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube (diffusion-type)
    manufacturer: Gastec
    model/type: 133D
    sampling information: 1 to 8 hours
    upper measurement limit: 150 ppm
    detection limit: 3 ppm
    overall uncertainty: 25% for 25 to 50 ppm-h, 16% for 50 to 150 ppm-h
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
    model/type: 8014-135SA
    sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
    upper measurement limit: 300 ppm
    detection limit: approximately 5 ppm
    overall uncertainty: unknown
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
    model/type: 8014-243U
    sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
    upper measurement limit: 160 ppm
    detection limit: approximately 5 ppm
    overall uncertainty: unknown
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
    model/type: 8014-135SB
    sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
    upper measurement limit: 10 ppm
    detection limit: approximately 1 ppm
    overall uncertainty: unknown
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  • device: Detector Tube
    manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
    model/type: 8014-135SH
    sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
    upper measurement limit: 2%
    detection limit: approximately 0.05%
    overall uncertainty: unknown
    method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
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Page last updated: 01/31/2006

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