TRICHLOROETHYLENE

Trichloroethylene, Why It Should Be Banned From Use

Trichloroethylene, Why It Should Be Banned From Use

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is used mainly in metal cleaning and vapor degreasing. TCE is also an input into the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and nonflammable adhesive formulas. About 1/3rd of whole domestic production was exported in 1988. State regulation of TCE emissions from metal-cleaning operations has led to increased substitution of TCA for TCE in metal cleaning, thus contributing to TCA's large share of this market (Chestnutt, 1988). TCA is also used in aerosol production as well as in electronics, primarily for the cleaning of printed circuit boards. About 15 percent of domestically produced TCE solvent was exported in 1988. From the beginning, Trichloroethylene has created problems for people and experts of this field have suggested that its frequent use should be stopped immediately. This paper discusses if Trichloroethylene (TCE) should be banned or not.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a common environmental contaminant at hazardous waste sites and in ambient and indoor air. Assessing the human health risks of TCE is challenging because of its inherently complex metabolism and toxicity and the widely varying perspectives on a number of critical scientific issues. Due to this complication, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) drew upon scientific input and expertise from a wide range of groups and individuals in developing its 2001 draft health risk assessment of TCE. This scientific method, which was aimed at engaging a diversity of viewpoints rather than developing consensus, culminated in the starting of new millennium with sixteen state-of-the-science articles published together as an Environmental Health Perspectives supplement. From those days, a considerable amount of new scientific research has been published that is relevant to assessing TCE health risks. Furthermore, a number of complicated or controversial scientific issues remain unresolved and are the subject of a scientific consultation with the National Academy of Sciences coordinated by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and co-sponsored by a number of federal agencies, including the U.S. EPA.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a chlorinated solvent that has been widely used as a metal degreaser, extractant, and chemical intermediate and is now a common environmental contaminant. TCE has been identified in at least fifteen hundred hazardous waste sites regulated under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA 1980) or the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA 1976). TCE can be released into the atmosphere from vapor degreasing operations, enter surface waters via direct discharges, and enter groundwater through leaching from disposal operations and Superfund sites. In addition, TCE can be released to indoor air from use of consumer products, vapor intrusion from groundwater through underground walls and floors, and volatilization from the water supply (Wu and Schaum 2001).

Toxicologically, TCE is an inherently complex chemical in terms of metabolism, observed effects, and mode of action (MOA), and there is a wide spectrum of views on many scientific issues related to TCE health risks. Consequently, in updating its previous TCE health risk assessments ...