Technical Factsheet on: TETRACHLOROETHYLENE
List of Contaminants
As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact sheet is part of a larger publication:
National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
Drinking Water Standards
MCLG: zero mg/L
MCL: 0.005 mg/L
HAL(child): 1 - to 10-day: 2 mg/L; Longer-term: 1 mg/L
Health Effects Summary
Acute: EPA has found tetrachloroethylene to potentially cause the following health effects from acute
exposures at levels above the MCL: detrimental effects to liver, kidney, and central nervous system.
Drinking water levels which are considered "safe" for short-term exposures: For a 10-kg (22 lb.) child
consuming 1 liter of water per day: a one- to ten-day exposure to 2 mg/L; upto a 7-year exposure to 1
mg/L.
Chronic: Tetrachloroethylene has the potential to cause the following health effects from long-term
exposures at levels above the MCL: detrimental effects to liver, kidney, and central nervous system.
Cancer: There is some evidence that tetrachloroethylene may have the potential to cause cancer from a
lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL.
Usage Patterns
Production of tetrachloroethylene has decreased: from 736 million lbs. in 1978 to 405 million lbs in 1986.
In 1989 it was estimated that industries consumed tetrachloroethylene as follows: Dry cleaning and textile
processing, 50%; chemical intermediate (mostly fluorocarbon F-113), 28%; industrial metal cleaning, 9%;
exports, 10%; other, 3%.
The greatest use of tetrachloroethylene is in the textile industry for processing, finishing, sizing, and as a
component of aerosol dry-cleaning products.
Other uses include: an intermediate in the synthesis of fluorocarbons, an insulating/cooling fluid in electric
transformers, in typewriter correction fluids, as veterinary medication against worms, once used as grain
protectant/fumigant.
Release Patterns
Major releases of tetrachloroethylene are: via vaporization losses from dry cleaning and industrial metal
cleaning; wastewater, particularly from metal finishing, laundries, aluminum forming, organic
chemical/plastics manufacturing and municipal treatment plants. It is also estimated that emissions
account for approximately 90% of the tetrachloroethylene produced in the United States.

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Water pollution can occur from tetrachloroethylene leaching from vinyl liners in asbestos-cement water
pipelines for water distribution, and during chlorination water treatment, where it can be formed in small
quantities.
From 1987 to 1993, according to EPA's Toxic Chemical Release Inventory, tetrachloroethylene releases
to land and water totalled over 1 million lbs., of which about 75 percent was to land. These releases were
primarily from alkali and chlorine industries which use tetrachloroethylene in making other chemicals. The
largest releases occurred in Louisiana and South Carolina.
Environmental Fate
If PCE is released to soil, it will be subject to evaporation into the atmosphere and to leaching to the
groundwater. Tetrachloroethylene was slightly adsorbed on sand and clay minerals. The Henry's
adsorption coefficients were approximately in proportion to the organic content of the soil samples. Based
on the reported and estimated Koc's (209 to 1685), tetrachloroethylene will be expected to exhibit low to
medium mobility in soil and therefore may leach slowly to the groundwater.
There is evidence that slow biodegradation of PCE occurs under anaerobic conditions when the
microorganisms have been acclimated. In experiments using continuous-flow laboratory methanogenic
column with well acclimated mixed cultures and a 2-day detention time, there was an average PCE
removal rate of 76%. Removal of 86% PCE occurred in a methanogenic biofilm column (8 weeks of
activation followed by 9-12 weeks ofacclimation). In a microcosm containing muck from an aquifer
recharge basin, 72.8% loss was observed in 21 days against 12-17% in controls. In one field ground
water recharge project, degradation was observed in the 50 day recharge period.
If PCE is released to water, it will be subject to rapid volatilization with estimated half-lives ranging from
<1 day to several weeks. Measured volatilization half-lives in a mesocosm simulating Narraganset Bay,
Rl were 11 days in winter, 25 days in spring, and 14 days in summer.
PCE will not be expected to significantly biodegrade in water or adsorb to sediment. PCE will not be
expected to significantly hydrolyze in soil or water under normal environmental conditions (half-life 9
months at 25 deg C).
If PCE is released to the atmosphere, it will exist mainly in the gas-phase and it will be subject to
photooxidation with estimates of degradation time scales ranging from an approximate half-life of 2
months to complete degradation in an hour. Some of the PCE in the atmosphere may be subject to
washout in rain based on the solubility of PCE in water and the fact that PCE has been detected in rain.
Based on the reported and estimated BCF's, tetrachloroethylene will not be expected to significantly
bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms. BCFs of 39 to 49 were measured in fish; a BCF of 226 was
estimated from octanol water partition coefficient.
Major human exposure is from inhalation of contaminated urban air, especially near point sources such
as dry cleaners, drinking contaminated water from contaminated aquifers and drinking water distributed in
pipelines with vinyl liners, and inhalation of contaminated occupational atmospheres in metal degreasing
and dry cleaning industries.
Chemical/Physical Properties
CAS Number: 127-18-4
Color/ Form/Odor: Colorless liquid with mildy sweet, chloroform-like odor; available in many forms, from
worm pills to dry-cleaning grades containing various stabilizers.

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M.P.: -19 C B.P.: 121 C
Vapor Pressure: 18.47 mm Hg at 25 C
Octanol/Water Partition (Kow): Log Kow = 3.40
Density/Spec. Grav.: 1.62 at 20 C
Solubility: 0.15 g/L of water at 25 C; Slightly soluble in water
Soil sorption coefficient: Koc = 210 (exp.) to 238 (est.); low to moderate mobility in soil
Odor/Taste Thresholds: Taste threshold in water is 0.3 mg/L
Bioconcentration Factor: BCFs of 39 to 49 reported in fish; not expected to bioconcentrate in aquatic
organisms.
Henry's Law Coefficient: N/A
Trade Names/Synonyms: Ethylene tetrachloride, Perchloroethylene, PCE, Ankilostin, Didakene, Fedal-
un, Nema, Perclene, Persec, Tetlen, Tetracap, Tetraleno, Tetropil, Antisal 1, Dow-per, Perawin, Perchlor,
Percosolv, Perk, Perklone, Tetraguer, Tetralex, Tetravec
Other Regulatory Information
Monitoring:
-	For Ground/Surface Water Sources:
Initial Frequency- 4 consecutive quarterly samples during initial compliance period (1993-1995)
Repeat Frequency- If no detects in initial samples GW systems must take annual samples during 1996-
1998 compliance period and triennial samples thereafter; SW systems must take annual samples.
-	Triggers - Return to quarterly monitoring if detect at > 0.0005 mg/L, until primacy State determines
otherwise
Analysis
Reference Source	Method Numbers
EPA 600/4-88-039	502.2; 524.2; 551
Treatment/Best Available Technologies: Granular Activated Charcoal and Packed Tower Aeration
Toxic Release Inventory - Releases to Water and Land, 1987 to 1993 (in pounds):
TOTALS (in pounds)
Top Five States*
Water
297,602
Land
750,104
LA
SC
NH
NC
IL
23,639
104,728
62,150
42,192
0
610,518
0
0
13,102
40,500

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TX
OH
IN
CO
IA
Major Industries*
Alkalis, chlorine
Leather tanning,finishing
Cotton fabric finishing
Misc textile finishing
Knit outwear mills
Misc. apparel, access.
Transportation Equip.
Ammunition
Misc Chem. preparations
Petroleum refining
Ordnance, accessories
36,144
0
1,300
0
5,112
0
0
0
3,750
0
63,472
62,150
51,577
48,082
45,808
0
32,170
27,000
11,000
0
720
611,242
0
0
2,000
0
40,500
27,000
20,575
11,102
11,000
10,100
* Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases greater than a certain amount - usually 1000 to
10,000 lbs.
For Additional Information
EPA can provide further regulatory or 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

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