Emerging Contaminant-
1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP)
December 2010
FACT SHEET
At a Glance
* Colorless to straw-colored liquid.
* Not found in nature - completely
man-made.
* Not likely to sorb to soil and has
low solubility in water. In the pure
form, likely to exist as a dense
nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL).
* Exposure occurs from industrial
settings or hazardous waste sites.
* State of California recognizes TCP
as a human carcinogen. Short-
term exposure may cause eye and
throat irritation; long-term exposure
led to kidney failure in mice.
* Federal maximum contaminant
level (MCL) not established. State
of Hawaii has established a state
MCL of 0.6 micrograms per liter.
* Numerous methods are available
for detection, including gas
chromatography, mass
spectroscopy, and liquid-liquid
extraction.
* Remediation technologies available
to treat TCP contamination in
ground water and soil include
granular activated carbon (GAC),
soil vapor extraction (SVE), and
others.
Introduction
An "emerging contaminant" is a chemical or material that is characterized
by a perceived, potential, or real threat to human health or the
environment or a lack of published health standards. A contaminant may
also be "emerging" because a new source or a new pathway to humans
has been discovered, or a new detection method or treatment technology
has been developed (DoD 2010). This fact sheet, developed by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Facilities Restoration
and Reuse Office (FFRRO), provides a brief summary of the emerging
contaminant 1,2,3-trichloropropane (TCP), including physical and
chemical properties; environmental and health impacts; existing federal
and state guidelines; detection and treatment methods; and sources of
additional information.
TCP is an emerging contaminant of interest to the government, private
sector, and other parties. It is recognized by the State of California to
cause cancer and is a known toxin. The State of Hawaii has established
a state maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.6 micrograms per liter
(ug/L). This fact sheet is intended for use by site managers and other
field personnel in addressing TCP contamination at cleanup sites or in
drinking water supplies.
What is TCP?
•:« TCP is a chlorinated hydrocarbon (Stepek 2009).
»> Synonyms include allyl trichloride, glycerol trichlorohydrin, and
trichlorohydrin (OSHA2010).
»> TCP is exclusively a man-made chemical, typically found at industrial
or hazardous waste sites (Dombeck and Borg 2005; TOSC 2004).
»> TCP has been used as an industrial solvent, as a cleaning and
degreasing agent, and in the production of pesticides (DHHS 2005;
TOSC 2004).
»> TCP is currently used as a chemical intermediate in the creation of
other chemicals (including polysulfone liquid polymers and
dichloropropene), and in the synthesis of hexafluoropropylene. In
addition, it is used as a crosslinking agent in the creation of
polysulfides (DHHS 2005).
»> TCP is typically found at industrial or hazardous waste sites.
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response (5106P)
1
EPA 505-F-10-007
December 2010
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Emerging Contaminant - 1,2,3-TCP
Exhibit 1: Physical and Chemical Properties of TCP
(ATSDR 1992; DHHS 2005; Dombeck and Borg 2005; OSHA 2010; IRIS 2009)
CAS Number
Physical Description (at room temperature)
Molecular weight (g/mol)
Water solubility (mg/L)
Boiling point (°C)
Vapor pressure at 25°C (mm Hg)
Specific gravity
Octanol-water partition coefficient (log Kow)
Soil organic carbon-water partition coefficient (log Koc)
Henry's law constant (atm mj/mol)
96-18-4
Colorless to straw-colored liquid
147.43
1,750 (slightly soluble)
156.8
3.1
1.39
1 .98 to 2.27 (temperature dependent)
1 .70 to 1 .99 (temperature dependent)
3.43x10'4
Notes: g/mol - gram per mole; mg/L - milligrams per liter;
atm m3/mol - atmosphere-cubic meters per mole.
"C - degrees Celsius; mm Hg - millimeters of mercury;
What are the environmental impacts of TCP?
TCP is not likely to sorb to soil based on its low
soil organic carbon-water partition coefficient;
therefore, is likely to leach from soil into ground
water (TOSC 2004).
TCP will sink to the bottom of a ground water
aquifer because its density is heavier than water
(TOSC 2004). Therefore, TCP in pure form is
likely to exist as DNAPL (Stepek 2009).
TCP evaporates from surface soil and water
(ATSDR 1995).
When in the atmosphere, TCP is subject to
photodegradation, with a half-life of 15 days
(ATSDR 1995).
TCP is unlikely to become concentrated in
plants, fish, or other seafood because of its low
bioconcentration factor (BCF is about 9.2)
(ATSDR 1992, 1995).
What are the health effects of TCP?
Exposure occurs through vapor inhalation,
dermal exposure, or ingestion (DHHS 2005).
Exposure is most likely to occur near hazardous
waste sites where TCP was improperly stored or
disposed of, or at locations that manufacture the
chemical (ATSDR 1992, 1995).
EPA has classified TCP as "likely to be
carcinogenic to humans" (IRIS 2009).
TCP is recognized by the State of California as a
human carcinogen (State of California 2007).
Animal studies have shown that long-term
exposure to TCP may cause kidney failure,
reduced body weight, and increased incidences
of tumors within numerous organs (IRIS 2009;
DHHS 2005; Stepek 2009).
Short-term exposure through inhalation of air
with a TCP concentration of 100 milligrams per
liter (mg/L) can cause eye and throat irritation
(ATSDR 1995) and can affect concentration and
muscle coordination (Stepek 2009).
Are there any federal and state guidelines and health standards for TCP?
No federal MCL has been set for TCP. The
State of Hawaii has established a state MCL of
0.6 ug/L (Hawaii Department of Health
Administrative Rules 2005).
The California Department of Public Health
(DPH) has established a notification level of
0.005 ug/L for drinking water based on a 1 in
10~6 lifetime excess cancer risk and a final public
health goal of 0.0007 ug/L (DPH 2006; OEHHA
2009).
The Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) has established a
permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 mg/L
(OSHA 2010).
The National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH) has set a recommended
exposure limit (REL) of 10 mg/L (60 milligrams
per cubic meter [mg/m3]) and an immediately
dangerous to life and health (IDLH) level of 100
mg/L (DHHS 2005).
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Emerging Contaminant - 1,2,3-TCP
Are there any federal and state guidelines and
health standards for TCP? (continued)
The EPA Integrated Risk Information System
(IRIS) lists an oral reference dose (RfD) of 0.004
milligrams per kilogram per day (mg/kg-day)
(EPA IRIS 2009).
The American Conference of Government
Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has set a
threshold limit value - time-weighted average
limit (TLV-TWA) of 10 mg/L (DHHS 2005).
The Health Effects Assessment Summary
Tables (HEAST) identifies an oral cancer slope
factor of 7.0 per mg/kg-day (EPA OSWER
1997).
What detection and site characterization methods are available for TCP?
EPA Method 8260B, based on gas
chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS)
for solid matrices (Stepek2009).
EPA Method 504.1, based on microextraction
and GC, for ground water and drinking water
(Stepek 2003; EPA ORD 1995a).
EPA Method 551.1, based on liquid-liquid
extraction and GC with electron-capture
detection, for drinking water, water being
treated, and raw source water (Stepek 2009;
EPA 1990).
EPA Method 524.2, based on capillary column
GC/MS, for surface water, ground water, and
drinking water in any stage of water treatment
(EPA ORD 1995b; Stepek 2009).
California DPH method, based on liquid-liquid
extraction and GC and purge and trap GC, for
trace-level detection in drinking water (DPH
2002a, 2002b).
What technologies are being used to treat TCP?
Treatment technologies for ground water that
are available for remediation of chlorinated
hydrocarbons include pump and treat,
permeable reactive barriers, in situ oxidation,
biodegradation, and dechlorination by hydrogen
release compound (Stepek 2009).
TCP in water can be removed using GAG
(Molnaa 2003; Dombeck and Borg 2005).
TCP in soil may be removed by SVE
(TOSC 2004).
Treatment for TCP in ground water has been
successful using ultraviolet (UV) radiation and
chemical oxidation with potassium
permanganate (Dombeck and Borg 2005;
Stepek 2009).
A laboratory-scale oxidation process (HiPOx)
using ozone and hydrogen peroxide has been
used for removal of TCP from ground water
(Dombeck and Borg 2005).
Where can I find more information about TCP?
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease
Registry (ATSDR). 1992. "Toxicological Profile
for 1,2,3-Trichloropropane." Atlanta, Georgia:
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Public Health Service.
ATSDR. 1995. ToxFAQs - "1,2,3-
Trichloropropane."
California Department of Public Heath (DPH).
2002a. Determination of 1,2,3-Trichloropropane
in Drinking Water by Continuous Liquid-Liquid
Extraction and Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry. Available on-line at
http://www.cdph.ca.qov/certlic/drinkinqwater/Doc
uments/Drinkinqwaterlabs/TCPbyLLE-
GCMS.pdf.
DPH. 2002b. Determination of 1,2,3-
Trichloropropane in Drinking Water by Purge
and Trap Gas Chromatography/Mass
Spectrometry.
http://www.cdph.ca.qov/certlic/drinkinqwater/Doc
uments/Drinkinqwaterlabs/TCPbyPT-GCMS.pdf
DPH. 2007. Drinking Water Notification Levels
and Response Levels: An Overview.
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Emerging Contaminant - 1,2,3-TCP
Where can I find more information about TCP? (continued)
California Office of Environmental Health Hazard
Assessment (OEHHA). 2009. Announcement of
Publication of the Final Public Health Goal for
1,2,3 - Trichloropropane in Drinking Water.
Dombeck, G., and C. Borg. 2005. "Multi-
contaminant Treatment for 1,2,3
Trichloropropane Destruction Using the HiPOx
Reactor." Reprinted from the Proceedings of the
2005 NGWA Conference on MTBE and
Perchlorate: Assessment, Remediation, and
Public Policy with permission of the National
Ground Water Association Press. Copyright
2005. ISBN #1-56034-120-3.
Hawaii Department of Health Administrative
Rules. 2005. Rules Relating to Potable Water
Systems. Page 20-14. Available on-line at
http://oeqc.doh.hawaii.gov/sites/har/AdmRules1/
11-20.pdf
Molnaa, Barry. 2003. "1,2,3-TCP: California's
Newest Emerging Contaminant" PowerPoint
Presentation, ENTECH 2003.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA). 2010. "OSHA/EPA Occupational
Chemical Database." Web site accessed
August 16.
www.osha.gov/web/dep/chemicaldata/CHEMIC
ALRESULT.asp?RecNo=163.
State of California. 2007. "Chemicals Known to
the State to Cause Cancer or Reproductive
Toxicity."
www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65 list/files/0601
07LST.pdf.
Stepek, 2009. "Ground Water Information Sheet
1,2,3-Trichloropropane (TCP)." State Water
Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Division of
Clean Water Programs, Ground Water Special
Studies Unit.
Technical Outreach Services for Communities
(TOSC). 2004. "Hazardous Substance Fact
Sheet 1,2,3-Trichloropropane (1,2,3-TCP)."
Western Region Hazardous Substance
Research Center Oregon State University.
February. Available on-line at
http://tosc.oregonstate.edu/about/news/newslett
ers/TCP%20FACT%20SHEET FINAL.pdf.
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). 2010.
Emerging Chemical & Material Risks.
https://www.denix.osd.mil/portal/page/portal/CM
RMD/ECMR
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(DHHS). 2005. "Substance Profiles Report on
Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition." Public Health
Service, National Toxicology Program.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
1990. Method 551.1, Determination of
Chlorination Disinfection Byproducts,
Chlorinated Solvents, and Halogenated
Pesticides/Herbicides in Drinking Water by
Liquid-Liquid Extraction and Gas
Chromatography with Electron-Capture
Detection.
EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS).
2009. "1,2,3-Trichloropropane (CASRN 96-18-
4)." www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0200.htm.
EPA Office of Research and Development
(ORD). 1995a. Method 504.1, 1,2-
Dibromoethane (EDB), 1,2-Dibromo-3-
chloropropane (DBCP), and 1,2,3-
Trichloropropane (123TCP) in Water by
Microextraction and Gas Chromatography.
National Exposure Research Laboratory.
EPA ORD. 1995b. Method 524.2,
Measurement of Purgeable Organic Compounds
in Water by Capillary Column Gas
Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. National
Exposure Research Laboratory.
EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response (OSWER). 1997. "Health Effects
Assessment Summary Tables (HEAST) FY
1997 Update". EPA 540/R-97-036-PB97-
921199.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or comments on this fact sheet, please contact: Mary Cooke, FFRRO, by phone at
(703) 603-8712 or by e-mail at cooke.maryt@epa.gov.
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