TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR TRICHLOROETHYLENE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Public Health Service Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry September 1997 TRICHLOROETHYLENE ii DISCLAIMER The use of company or product name(s) is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. TRICHLOROETHYLENE iii UPDATE STATEMENT An update Toxicological Profile for Trichloroethylene was released in April 1993. This edition supersedes any previously released draft or final profile. Toxicological profiles are revised and republished as necessary, but no less than once every three years. For information regarding the update status of previously released profiles, contact ATSDR at: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Toxicology/Toxicology Information Branch 1600 Clifton Road NE, E-29 Atlanta, Georgia 30333 *Legislative Background vi The toxicological profiles are developed in response to the Super-fund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986 (Public Law 99-499) which amended the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA or Superfund). This public law directed ATSDR to prepare toxicological profiles for hazardous substances most commonly found at facilities on the CERCLA National Priorities List and that pose the most significant potential threat to human health, as determined by ATSDR and the EPA. The availability of the revised priority list of 275 hazardous substances was announced in the Federal Register on April 29, 1996 (61 FR 18744). For prior versions of the list of substances, see Federal Register notices dated April 17, 1987 (52 FR 12866); October 20, 1988 (53 FR 41280); October 26, 1989 (54 FR 43619); October 17,1990 (55 FR 42067); October 17, 1991 (56 FR 52166); October 28, 1992 (57 FR 48801); and February 28, 1994 (59 FR 9486). Section 104(i)(3) of CERCLA, as amended, directs the Administrator of ATSDR to prepare a toxicological profile for each substance on the list. TRICHLOROETHYLENE vii CONTRIBUTORS CHEMICAL MANAGER(S)/AUTHOR(S): Mildred Williams-Johnson, Ph.D., D.A.B.T. ATSDR, Division of Toxicology, Atlanta, GA Carol J. Eisenmann, Ph.D. Sciences International, Inc., Alexandria, VA Steven G. Donkin, Ph.D. Sciences International, Inc., Alexandria, VA The Chemical Manager and Authors acknowledge the contribution of Dr. Ted W. Simon, U.S. EPA, in applying physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling to the development of minimal risk levels for trichloroethylene. THE PROFILE HAS UNDERGONE THE FOLLOWING ATSDR INTERNAL REVIEWS: 1. Green Border Review. Green Border review assures consistency with ATSDR policy. 2. Health Effects Review. The Health Effects Review Committee examines the health effects chapter of each profile for consistency and accuracy in interpreting health effects and classifying end points. 3. Minimal Risk Level Review. The Minimal Risk Level Workgroup considers issues relevant to substance-specific minimal risk levels (MRLs), reviews the health effects database of each profile, and makes recommendations for derivation of MRLs. TRICHLOROETHYLENE ix PEER REVIEW A peer review panel was assembled for trichloroethylene. The panel consisted of the following members: 1. Herbert Cornish, Ph.D., Private Consultant, Ypsilanti, MI 2. James Klaunig, Ph.D., Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 3. Norbert Page, Ph.D., Private Consultant, Gaithersburg, MD These experts collectively have knowledge of trichloroethylene’s physical and chemical properties, toxico- kinetics, key health end points, mechanisms of action, human and animal exposure, and quantification of risk to humans. All reviewers were selected in conformity with the conditions for peer review specified in Section 104(i)( 13) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended. Scientists from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have reviewed the peer reviewers’ comments and determined which comments will be included in the profile. A listing of the peer reviewers’ comments not incorporated in the profile, with a brief explanation of the rationale for their exclusion, exists as part of the administrative record for this compound. A list of databases reviewed and a list of unpublished documents cited are also included in the administrative record. The citation of the peer review panel should not be understood to imply its approval of the profile’s final content. The responsibility for the content of this profile lies with the ATSDR. TRICHLOROETHYLENE 1 1. PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT This public health statement tells you about trichloroethylene and the effects of exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified 1,428 hazardous waste sites as the most serious in the nation. These sites make up the National Priorities List (NPL) and are targeted for long-term federal clean-up. Trichloroethylene has been found in at least 861 NPL sites. However, it’s unknown how many NPL sites have been evaluated for this substance. As EPA looks at more sites, the sites with trichloroethylene may increase. This is important because exposure to this substance may harm you and because these sites may be sources of exposure. When a substance is released from a large area, such as an industrial plant, or from a container, such as a drum or bottle, it enters the environment. This release does not always lead to exposure. You are exposed to a substance only when you come in contact with it by breathing, eating, touching, or drinking. If you are exposed to trichloroethylene, many factors will determine whether you’ll be harmed. These factors include the dose (how much), the duration (how long), and how you come in contact with it. You must also consider the other chemicals you’re exposed to and your age, sex, diet, family traits, lifestyle, and state of health. 1.1 WHAT IS TRICHLOROETHYLENE? Trichloroethylene is also known as Triclene and Vitran and by other trade names in industry. It is a nonflammable, colorless liquid at room temperature with a somewhat sweet odor and a sweet, burning taste. Trichloroethylene is now mainly used as a solvent to remove grease from metal parts. It is also used as a solvent in other ways and is used to make other chemicals. Trichloroethylene can also be found in some household products, including typewriter correction fluid, paint removers, adhesives, and spot removers. Most people can begin to smell trichloroethylene in air when there are around 100 parts of trichloroethylene per million parts of air (ppm). Further information on the physical and chemical properties of trichloroethylene can be found in Chapter 3, and further information on its production and use can be found in Chapter 4. TRICHLOROETHYLENE 2 1. PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT 1.2 WHAT HAPPENS TO TRICHLOROETHYLENE WHEN IT ENTERS THE ENVIRONMENT? By far, the biggest source of trichloroethylene in the environment is evaporation from factories that use it to remove grease from metals. It can also enter the air and water when it is disposed of at chemical waste sites. It evaporates easily but can stay in the soil and in groundwater. Once it is in the air, about half will be broken down within a week. When trichloroethylene is broken down in the air, phosgene, a lung irritant, can be formed. Trichloroethylene can break down under high heat and alkaline conditions to form dichloroacetylene and phosgene. In the body, trichloroethylene may break down into dichloroacetic acid (DCA), trichloroacetic acid (TCA), chloral hydrate, and 2-chloroacetaldehyde. These products have been shown to be toxic to animals and are probably toxic to humans. Once trichloroethylene is in water, much will evaporate into the air; again, about half will break down within a week. It will take days to weeks to break down in surface water. In groundwater the breakdown is much slower because of the much slower evaporation rate. Very little trichloroethylene breaks down in the soil, and it can pass through the soil into underground water. It is found in some foods. The trichloroethylene found in foods is believed to come from contamination of the water used in food processing, or from food processing equipment cleaned with trichloroethylene. It does not build up in fish, but low levels have been found in them. It is not likely to build up in your body. For more information on trichloroethylene in the environment, see Chapters 4 and 5. 1.3 HOW MIGHT I BE EXPOSED TO TRICHLOROETHYLENE? Trichloroethylene is found in the outdoor air at levels far less than 1 ppm. When measured several years ago, some of the water supplies in the United States were found to have tuichloroethylene. The most recent monitoring study found average levels in surface water ranging from 0.0001 to 0.001 ppm of water and an average level of 0.007 ppm in groundwater. About 400,000 workers are routinely exposed to trichloroethylene in the United States. The chemical can also get into the air or water in many ways, for example, at waste treatment facilities; by evaporation from paints, glues, and other products; or by release from factories where it is made. Another way you may be exposed is by breathing the air around factories that use the chemical. People living near hazardous waste sites may be exposed to it in the air or in TRICHLOROETHYLENE 3 1. PUBLIC HEALTH STATEMENT their drinking water, or in the water used for bathing or cooking. Products that may contain trichloroethylene are some types of typewriter correction fluids, paints and paint removers, glues, spot removers, rug cleaning fluids, and metal cleaners. For more information on exposure to trichloroethylene, see Chapter 5. 1.4 HOW CAN TRICHLOROETHYLENE ENTER AND LEAVE MY BODY? Trichloroethylene enters your body when you breathe air or drink water containing it. It can also enter your body if you get it on your skin. You could be exposed to contaminated water or air if you live near or work in a factory that uses trichloroethylene or if you live near a waste disposal site that contains trichloroethylene.