TRICHLOROETHYLENE | OSHA.gov | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

TRICHLOROETHYLENE†

Chemical Identification
CAS #	79-01-6
Formula	C₂HCl₃
Synonyms	ethylene trichloride; TCE; trichloroethene; trilene

Physical Properties
Physical description	Colorless liquid (unless dyed blue) with a chloroform-like odor.
Boiling point	189°F	Molecular weight	131.4
Freezing point/melting point	-99°F	Vapor pressure	58 mmHg
Flash point	>200°F	Vapor density	4.53
Specific gravity	1.46	Ionization potential	9.45 eV
Lower explosive limit (LEL)	8%	Upper explosive limit (UEL)	10.5%
NFPA health rating	2	NFPA fire rating	1
NFPA reactivity rating	0	NFPA special instruction
Vapor hazard ratio (VHR)
Historical exceedance percentage
Target organs

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA
Analyte code (IMIS no.)	2490	2490
Sampling group	OVSG-1
Sampler/Sampling media	CSC tube (100/50 mg) [SKC 226-01]	SKC 575-002 Passive Sampler [SKC 575-002]
Sampling time^*	240 min (1 min Peak; ≤5 min C)	<240 min TWA; >5min C, Peak
Sampling volume (TWA)^*	12 L
Sampling flow rate (TWA)^*	0.05 L/min
Sampling volume (STEL/Peak/C)^*	0.05 L (Peak); 0.25 L (C)
Sampling flow rate (STEL/Peak/C)^*	0.05 L/min
Analytical method instruments	GC-FID	GC-FID
Method reference	OSHA 5000 (fully validated)	OSHA 1001 (fully validated)
Notes		To obtain sampling and analytical error similar to that available with active sampling, knowledge of the atmospheric pressure and temperature are required, and these should be obtained using NIST-traceable devices. If that is not possible, temperature is assumed to be 22.2 °C, and the atmospheric pressure is estimated based on the elevation of the sampling location. When estimates are used in place of traceable measurements the sampling and analytical error associated with passive sampling is substantially increased, and this makes it more difficult to demonstrate overexposures after considering the 95% lower confidence limit.
Special requirements

^* All sampling instructions above are recommended guidelines for OSHA Compliance Safety and Health Officers (CSHOs), please see the corresponding OSHA method reference for complete details.

Bulk/Wipe Method
Wipe Sampler/Sampling media
Bulk Method

On-Site Screening Techniques
Device	CMS Chip
Model/Type	Trichloroethylene, 5-100 ppm range
Sampling information (see manufacturer instructions)

**Exposure Limits**
OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak		NIOSH REL Up to 10-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		ACGIH TLV© 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling		CAL/OSHA PEL 8-hour TWA (ST) STEL (C) Ceiling Peak
PEL-TWA	100 ppm	REL-TWA		TLV-TWA	10 ppm [2006]	PEL-TWA	25 ppm (135 mg/m³)
PEL-STEL		REL-STEL		TLV-STEL	25 ppm [2006]	PEL-STEL	100 ppm (537 mg/m³)
PEL-C	200 ppm; 300 ppm (Peak), for a single time period up to 5 min in any 2 hours	REL-C		TLV-C		PEL-C	300 ppm
Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N	Skin notation	N
Notes: See 29 CFR 1910.1000 Table Z-2. OSHA Construction and Maritime Industry PEL is 100 ppm (535 mg/m³) as an 8 hr TWA. See 29 CFR 1926.55 Table 1 and 29 CFR 1915.1000 Table Z-Shipyards.		Notes: CARCINOGEN (Ca): REDUCE EXPOSURE TO LOWEST FEASIBLE CONCENTRATION. See Appendix A, NIOSH Potential Occupational Carcinogens and Appendix C, Supplementary Exposure Limits.		Notes: BEI®		Notes:
Health factors: See NIH-NLM PubChem.		IDLH	1000 ppm
Carcinogenic classifications: IARC-2A, NIOSH-Ca, TLV-A2, NTP-R		Notes: Ca
AIHA emergency response planning guidelines - ERPG-1/ERPG-2/ERPG-3: 100 ppm/500 ppm/5000 ppm

Additional Resources and Literature References

NOAA: CAMEO Chemicals - Trichloroethylene

NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Trichloroethylene

Literature References

ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Trichloroethylene. See annual publication for most recent information.
EPA Air Toxics Website: Trichloroethylene. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Technology Transfer Network.
Bringmann, G, God, R., Fahr, S., Feineis, D., Fornadi, K. and Fornadi, F.: Identification of the dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-trichloromethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline in human blood after intake of the hypnotic chloral hydrate. Anal. Biochem. 270(1): 167-175, 1999.
Cai, H. and Guengerich, F.P.: Reaction of trichloroethylene and trichloroethylene oxide with cytochrome P450 enzymes: inactivation and sites of modification. Chem. Res. Toxicol. 14(4): 451-458, 2001.
Forkert, P.-G., Lash, L., Tardif, R., Tanphaichitr, N., Vandevoort, C. and Moussa, M.: Identification of trichloroethylene and its metabolites in human seminal fluid of workers exposed to trichloroethylene. Drug Metab. Dispos. 31(3): 306-311, 2003.
Guehl, D., Bezard, E., Dovero, S., Boraud, T., Bioulac, B. and Gross, C.: Trichloroethylene and parkinsonism: a human and experimental observation. Eur. J. Neurol. 6(5): 609-611, 1999.
Lipscomb, J.C., Garrett, C.M. and Snawder, J.E.: Cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of trichloroethylene: interindividual differences in humans. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 142(2): 311-318, 1997.
Nakajima, T., Yamanoshita, O., Kamijima, M., Kishi, R. and Ichihara, G.: Generalized skin reactions in relation to trichloroethylene exposure: a review from the viewpoint of drug-metabolizing enzymes. J. Occup. Health 45(1): 8-14, 2003.
Pohanish, R.P. (editor): Trichloroethylene. In, Sittig's Handbook of Toxic and Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens, Fourth Ed., Vol. 2. Norwich, NY: Noyes Publications, William Andrew Publishing, 2002, pp.2250-2253.

Last Updated Date : 04/14/2021

Group Sampling Information
Sampling Media	Sampling Time (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)	TWA Sampling Volume (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)	TWA Flow Rate (If there are exceptions they will be in Notes)
CSC Tube (100/50 mg sections, 20/40 mesh), [SKC 226-01]	240 min	12 L	0.05 L/min

Analytes Sampling Information
Analytes	IMIS Code	Wipe Sampling
Isobutyl Acetate	1534	No
n-Butyl Acetate	0440	No
sec-Butyl Acetate	0441	No
tert-Butyl Acetate	0442	No
Toluene**	2460	No
Ethyl Benzene	1080	No
Perchloroethylene (Tetrachloroethylene)**	2020	No
Trichloroethylene**	2490	No
Xylene	2590	No
Trimethylbenzene	2505	No
Benzene***	0320	No
Ethyl Acetate****	1040	No
n-Propyl Acetate‡	2180	No
Pentane‡‡	1990	No
Cyclohexane‡‡‡	0810	No
Heptane*	1371	No
n-Hexane‡‡‡‡	1380	No
Nonane*	N807	No
Octane*	1957	No

Notes

Request any (up to three (3)) of these analytes together.

Alternatively request IMIS Code Q115 and SLTC will report any significant amounts of these analytes.

Results for unrequested analytes in this group will be reported if significant amount are found.

Toluene, sec-Butyl Acetate, Benzene and Isobutyl Alcohol all have/are known interferences. Please indicate on the 91A which of these compounds are known to be present.

There is no need to contact SLTC before sampling.

*80 min (4L)

**Peak sampling 1 min (0.05 L) and Ceiling sampling 5 min (0.25 L)

***STEL sampling 15 min (0.75 L)

****120 min (6 L)

‡200 min (10 L)

‡‡45 min (2.25 L)

‡‡‡190 min (9.5 L)

‡‡‡‡98 min (4.9 L)

TRICHLOROETHYLENE†

Chemical Identification

Physical Properties

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA

Bulk/Wipe Method

On-Site Screening Techniques

Exposure Limits

Additional Resources and Literature References