FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT GENERAL INFORMATION Synonyms: TCE; Tncnioroethene; Acetylene Trichloride; Tri; Trtiene Chemical Description: Synthetic organic compound; no natural sources Properties: Clear, volatile liquid Non-flammable Boiling point 86.7°C Production and Use: U.S. production in 1982 was 200 million pounds Used as a aegreaser in metal industry, a household and industrial solvent, an extracting agent in foods, ana an inhalation anesthetic during some snort-term surgical procedures ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE Occurrence: Ubiquitous in air at concentrations in the parrs per billion to parts per trillion range Common contaminant in ground and surface waters About 3% of public drinking water supplies derived from well water contain 0.5 ng/l or higher TCE; also found in drinking water derived from surface water but at' lower levels 'May occur in foods in the parti per million concentration range Releases: Major source of environmental levels is from volatilization during use as a metal degreaser TCE contaminated with grease and oil has been buried in landfills and dumped on the ground and .nto sewers Environmental Fate: Migrates readily to ground water where it may remain for months to years Degrades in air in a few days Photooxidatlon is the predominant fate of TCE No significant Diaoccumuiation in inaividuci animals or food chains HEALTH EFFECTS Humans: Causes vomiting and abdominal pain, followed by transient unconsciousness Long-term occupational exposures produce increased serum transaminases, inaicating liver damage Data are inadequate to categorically state mat TCE is a numan carcinogen; however, there is ample animal data to classify TCE as a group 82 carcinogen. a probable human carcinogen Experimented Animals: High single oral doses in ratsdeath Air exposure for 14 weeks in ratsincreased liver weights No information available on reproductive or developmental effects induces liver cancers in mice and rats with oral or inhalation exposures » Mutagenic in some in vitro bacterial tests REGULATORY HISTORY Existing Standards: Clean Air Act (CAA): Being considered Clean Water Act (CWA): Registered Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): listed for ground-water monitoring Superfund (CERCIA): Reportable Quantity '00 pounds SARA; listed Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodentleide Act (F1F8A): Not available Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): On inventory ------- HEALTH INFORMATION WATER TREATMENT Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG): Ncn-enforcecbie levels based solely on an evaluation of possible necith risks and exposure, and taking into consideration a margin for public safety Set of zero for cancer-causing chemicals in wafer MCLG for TCE - 0 mg/L Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL): Legally enforceable levels for contaminants in public drinking water supplies Based on health risks associated with the contaminants, analytical methods for their assay, and water treatment feasibility and practicality aspects MCL for TCE - 0.005 mg/L (adopted 7/8/87) EPA Hearth Advisories (HA): Short-term HAs; Provide acceptable concentrations of contaminants in water for up to 10 day exposures, primarily to evaluate the public health risk resulting from an accidental spill or an emergency contamination situation Longer-term HAs: Provide guidance for persistent water contamination situations to cover a period of up to 7 years Lifetime HAs: Derived in tne same way as an MCLG Health Advisories: Short-term HA for a child ¦ not determined Longer-term HAS » not determined ANALYTICAL METHODS Gas chromatography , EPA Method 502 Permanent Treatment: Best Available Technology (BAT): - granular activated carbon adsorpncn - aeration - boiling - air stripping SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION If the drinking water standards are exceeded, install BAT or use an alternative drinking water supply sucn as bottled water Boiling water for 5 minutes is effective in removing 95% of the TCE originally presentpotential inhalation hazard ADDITIONAL HELP State or county health officials can indicate a certified laboratory for testing Experts in the state Department of Environmental Protection or Natural Resources may also be of heip The EPA has toll-free numbers for further information on drinking water quality, treatment technologies, for obtaining Health Advisories, and for other regulatory information EPA Hotlines are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST: Safe Drinking Water; 800-426-4791 Air Quality: 800-631-2700 National Pesticides: 800-858-PEST Superfund/RCRA: 800-424-9346 800-343-3958 For information on the Clean Water Act. cail (2C2) 260-7301 For information on the Toxic Substances Control Act, call (202) 554-140 ------- |