Tetrachloroethylene Toxicity
What Are the Standards for Tetrachloroethylene Exposure?
Course: WB 1110
CE Original Date: May 23, 2008
CE Renewal Date: May 23, 2011
CE Expiration Date: May 23, 2013
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Learning Objectives |
Upon completion of this section, you will be able to
- identify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limit (PEL) for tetrachloroethylene and
- identify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) maximum contaminant level (MCL) for tetrachloroethylenein drinking water.
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Introduction |
Government regulations and standards have been developed for tetrachloroethylene. These are designed to protect the public and workers from potential adverse health effects. |
Workplace Standards |
OSHA has established a PEL in workplace air of 100 ppm measured as an 8-hour TWA (
Table 1).
NIOSH recommends that tetrachloroethylene be treated in the workplace as a potential human carcinogen and that occupational exposure be reduced to the lowest feasible level (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry 1997).
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH)(American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. 2001) recommends a threshold limit value (TLV) of 25 ppm and an 8-hour TLV/TWA of 100 ppm. ACGIH has also established the following biologic exposure indices (BEIs)
- 10 ppm tetrachloroethylene in end-exhaled air, sample collected before the last shift of the workweek,
- 1 mg/L tetrachloroethylene in blood, specimen collected before the last shift of the workweek, and
- 7 mg/L trichloroacetic acid in urine, specimen collected at end of the workweek
A BEI is a recommended “warning level,” not an absolute threshold. It may be underprotective or overprotective, depending on individual susceptibility, body habits, level of activity, and concomitant exposures. |
Environmental Standards |
Air
EPA intends to propose air emission standards for tetrachloroethylene, but such standards have not yet been promulgated.
Water
The current EPA drinking water regulation for tetrachloroethylene is 5 ppb.
| Table 1. Standards and Regulations for Tetrachloroethylene |
| Agency |
Focus |
Level* |
Comments |
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists |
Air: workplace |
25 ppm |
Advisory; TLV/TWA† STEL‡ of 100 ppm |
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health |
Air: workplace |
Not available |
Advisory; lowest feasible level because of carcinogenicity |
Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
Air: workplace |
100 ppm |
Regulation; PEL§ over an 8-hour workday |
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
Air: environment |
None |
Listed as a hazardous air pollutant under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act |
|
Water: environment |
5 ppb |
Regulation; maximum level allowed in drinking water |
|
*ppm: parts per million; ppb: parts per billion.
†TLV/TWA (threshold limit value/time-weighted average): time-weighted average concentration for a normal 8-hour workday or 40-hour workweek to which nearly all workers may be exposed.
‡STEL (short-term exposure limit): usually a 15-minute sampling period.
§PEL (permissible exposure limit): highest level, averaged over a normal workday, to which a worker may be exposed. |
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Key Points |
- EPA has established a drinking water maximum contaminant level (MCL) for tetrachloroethylene of 5 ppb (US Environmental Protection Agency 1986).
- The current OSHA's 8-hour TWA for tetrachloroethylene is 100 ppm.
- NIOSH considers tetrachloroethylene a potential carcinogen and recommends exposure in the workplace be reduced to the lowest possible level.
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Progress Check |
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