United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4601
EPA 811-F-95-004t-T
October 1995
National Primary Drinking
Water Regulations
Trich loroethy lene
CHEMICAL/ PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
CAS NUMBER: 79-01-6
OCTANOL/WATER PARTITION (Kow):
Log Kow = 2.29
ODOR/TASTE THRESHOLDS: N/A
HENRY'S LAW COEFFICIENT:
SOLUBILITIES: 1.1 mg/L of water at 25° C 0.01 atm-cu m/mole
COLOR/ FORM/ODOR: Clear, colorless or blue
mobile liquid with sweet chloroform-like SOIL SORPTION COEFFICIENT: Log Koc = 2 for TRADE NAMES/SYNONYMS: 1,1,2-Trichloroeth-
ocior many soil types; high to very high ylene; Acetylene trichloroethylene;
mobility in soil Algylen; Anameth; Benzind; Chlorilen;
M.P.: -73° C B.P.: 87° C CirCosolv; Germalgene; Lethurin; Perm-
BIOCONCENTRATION FACTOR: 17 to 39 in fish; a_cnlor. Petzino|. phi|ex; TR|.p|us M;
VAPOR PRESSURE: 57.8 mm Hg at 20° C
DENSITY/SPEC. GRAV.: 1.465 at 20° C
moderate.
Vitran
DRINKING WATER STANDARDS
MCLG: zero
Met: 0.005 mg/L
HAt(child): none
HEALTH EFFECTS SUMMARY
Acute: EPA has found trichloroethylene to potentially
cause vomiting and abdominal pain from acute expo-
sures at levels above the MCL.
RELEASE PATTERNS
Major environmental releases of trichloroethylene are
due to airemissionsfrom metal degreasing plants. Waste-
water from metal finishing, paint and ink formulation,
electrical/electronic components, and rubber processing
industries also may contain trichloroethylene.
From 1987 to 1993, according to the Toxics Release
Inventory, trichloroethylene releases to water totalled
over 100,000 Ibs. Releases to land totalled over 191,000
Ibs. These releases were primarily from steel pipe and
No Health Advisories have been established for short- tube manufacturing industries. The largest
term exposures
Chronic: Trichloroethylene has the potential to cause
liver damage from a lifetime exposure at levels above the
MCL.
Cancer: There is some evidence that trichloroethyl-
ene may have the potential to cause cancer from a
lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL.
USAGE PATTERNS
Production of trichloroethylene has increased from just
over 260,000 Ibs in 1 981 to 320 million Ibs. in 1 991 . Vapor
degreasing of fabricated metal parts and some textiles
accounts for 80% of its use.
Five percent is used as an intermediate in the produc-
tion of organic chemicals and Pharmaceuticals. Miscella-
neous uses (5%) include solvents for dry cleaning, ex-
'raction and as a refrigerant/heat exchange liquid. An
estimated 1.0% is exported.
• . /-j •/•••' ' "
• £l.»t'-J--i— A VW ^..,i, .. . ,,.'__, , . . •
Toxic RELEASE INVENTORY -
RELEASES TO WATER AND LAND: 1987 TO
Water
TOTALS (in pounds) 100,293
Top Six States*
PA 0
IL 0
GA 3,742
TX 0
MA 0
WV 12,822
Major Industries
Steel pipe, tubes 31
Misc. Indust. Organics 27,708
Car parts, access. 4,405
Plating, polishing 3,342
Wool fabric mills 3,942
* State totals only include facilities with releases
than 10,000 Ibs.
releases oc-
1993
Land
191,088
33,450
30,711
17,532
21,000
19,920
0
39,288
0
19,920
20JOO
18,081
greater
October 1995
Technical Version
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curred in Pennsylvania and Illinois. The largest direct
releases to water occurred in West Virginia.
ENVIRONMENTAL FATE
Relatively high vapor pressure and low adsorption
coefficient to a number of soil types indicates ready
transport through soil and low potential for adsorption to
sediments. The mobility in soil is confirmed in soil column
studies and river bank infiltration studies. Four to six
percent of environmental concentrations of trichloroeth-
ylene adsorbed to two silty clay loams (Koc=87 and 150).
No adsorption to Ca-saturated montmorillonite and 17%
adsorption to Al-saturated montmorillonite was observed.
The high Henry's Law Constant indicates rapid evapo-
ration from water. Half-lives of evaporation have been
reported to be on the order of several minutes to hours,
depending upon the turbulence. Field studies also sup-
port rapid evaporation from water. Trichloroethylene is
not hydrolyzed by water under normal conditions. It does
not adsorb light of less than 290 nm and therefore should
not directly photodegrade. However, slow (half-life -I0.7
months) photooxidation in water has been noted.
Trichloroethylene is relatively reactive under smog
conditions with 60% degradation in 140 min and 50%
degradation in 1 to 3.5 hours reported. Atmospheric
residence times based upon reaction with hydroxyl radi-
cal is 5 days(6-8) with production of phosgene,
dichloroacetyl chloride, and formyl chloride.
Marine monitoring data only suggest moderate biocon-
centration (2-25 times). Bioconcentration factors of 17 to
39 have been reported in bluegill sunfish and rainbow
trout.
OTHER REGULATORY INFORMATION
MONITORING:
FOR GROUND/SURFACE WATER SOURCES:
INITIAL FREQUENCY- 4 quarterly samples every 3 years
REPEAT FREQUENCY- Annually after 1 year of no detection
TRIGGERS - Return to Initial Freq. if detect at > 0.0005 mg/L
ANALYSIS:
REFERENCE SOURCE
EPA 600/4-88-039
METHOD NUMBERS
502.2; 524.2; 551
TREATMENT:
BEST AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES
Granular Activated Charcoal and Packed Tower Aeration
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
4 EPA can provide further regulatory and other general information:
EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline - 800/426-4791
* Other sources of toxicological and environmental fate data include:
Toxic Substance Control Act Information Line - 202/554-1404
• Toxics Release Inventory, National Library of Medicine - 301/496-6531
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - 404/639-6000
October 1995
Technical Version
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