Laserfiche WebLink
/ <br /> • PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS AND TOXICOLOCICAL PROFILES <br /> 1 Tetrachloroeth lene <br /> Tetrachloroethylene(perchloroethylene) is a colorless, nonflammable liquid Itis moderately <br /> volatile and not very soluble in water (150 mg/1) Tetrachloroethylene resists hydrolysis and <br /> can be very stable in the environment It can be biodegraded if the microorganisms are given <br /> 1 time to adapt <br /> Tetrachloroethylene is absorbed primarily by inhalation Absorption is slow by ingestion and <br /> across the skin Tetrachloroethylene is not highly metabolized The half-life in the body is <br /> about 65 hours for tetrachloroethylene and 144 hours for its metabolites In high <br /> 1 concentrations, tetrachloroethylene can act as an irritant of the eyes, nose and throat <br /> Prolonged dermal exposure can result in dermatitis Tetrachloroethylene can act as a central <br /> nervous system depressant but primarily at high concentrations Acute exposures can result <br /> in vertigo, fatigue, nausea and impaired coordination Sustained atmospheric concentrations <br /> of 200 ppm can lead to narcosis and death However, tetrachloroethylene has a low potential <br /> 1 for producing organ damage in acute exposures The LD ,is for oral administration were <br /> reported to be 8,850 mg/kg in rats and 8,100 mg/kg in mice An LC50 for rats was reported as <br /> being 5,040 ppm for eight hours The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health <br /> time-weighted average has been set at 50 ppm (335 mg/cu m) Few problems from industrial <br /> exposures have been reported <br /> r <br /> Chronic exposure to tetrachloroethylene can result in liver and kidney damage <br /> Tetrachloroethylene was found to cause liver tumors in mice but none in rats in National <br /> Cancer Institute bioassays When administered to pregnant rats and mice, fetal weight was <br /> found to decrease and the number of resorptions increased, but no teratogenic effects were <br /> 1 found Mutagenicity studies with bacteria have given negative results <br /> The EPA has set a suggested no-adverse-response level for tetrachloroethylene of 20 ug/I for <br /> long-term exposures The EPA has set a recommended maximum contaminant level In <br /> drinking water of 0 ug/I The EPA water quality criterion for tetrachloroethylene is 5,280 ug/I <br /> 1 to protect freshwater aquatic life in acute exposures and 840 ug/I in chronic exposures <br /> i <br /> I <br /> • <br /> Avalon Environmental Consultants 9627-001-7 <br /> Kashmar Singh Joes Truck Plaza <br /> February 1, 2002 Lathrop, California <br />