PERCHLOROETHYLENE (TETRACHLOROETHYLENE) | Occupational Safety and Health Administration

PERCHLOROETHYLENE (TETRACHLOROETHYLENE)†

Chemical Identification
CAS #	127-18-4
Formula	C₂Cl₄
Synonyms	tetrachloroethylene, carbon bichloride, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethylene, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethene

Physical Properties
Physical description	Colorless liquid with a mild, chloroform-like odor.
Boiling point	250°F	Molecular weight	165.8
Freezing point/melting point	-2°F	Vapor pressure	14 mmHg
Flash point		Vapor density	5.83
Specific gravity	1.62	Ionization potential	9.32 eV
Lower explosive limit (LEL)		Upper explosive limit (UEL)
NFPA health rating	2	NFPA fire rating	0
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.)	2020	2020
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	Detector tubes	Detector tubes	Detector tubes	Detector tubes	Detector tubes	CMS Chip
Model/Type	Dräger - Perchloroethylene 0.1/a, 8101551; 2/a, 8101501; 10/b, CH30701	Gastec 133HA	Gastec 133L, 133LL	Gastec 133D	Matheson-Kitagawa 8014-135SA, 8014-243U, 8014-135SB, 8014-135SH	Perchloroethylene, 5-150 ppm range
Sampling information (see manufacturer instructions)	0.1/a: 3-9 strokes, 0.2-4 ppm range, uncertainty approx 33%. 2/a: 1-5 strokes, 2-300 ppm range, uncertainty approx 25%. 10/b: 3 strokes, 5-500 ppm range, uncertainty approx 25%	4 strokes, 0.05-50 ppm range, uncertainty 16% for 0.2-10 ppm, 8% for 10-50 ppm	0.5 - 2 strokes, 133L: 0.4-75 ppm range, uncertainty 16% for 2-5 ppm, 8% for 5-25 ppm. 133LL: 0.05-9 ppm range, uncertainty 16% for 0.2-1 ppm, 8% for 1-3 ppm	1-8 hours, 3-150 ppm range, uncertainty 25% for 25-50 ppm-h, 16% for 50-150 ppm-h	follow mfr instructions. 8014-135SA: approx 5-300 ppm range, 8014-243U: approx 5-160 ppm range, 8014-135SB: approx 1-10 ppm, 8014-135SH: 0.05-2% range

**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	25 ppm [1990]	PEL-TWA	25 ppm (170 mg/m³)
PEL-STEL		REL-STEL		TLV-STEL	100 ppm [1990]	PEL-STEL	100 ppm (685 mg/m³)
PEL-C	200 ppm; 300 ppm (Peak) [a single time up to 5 min for any 3 hrs]	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. The Construction and Maritime PEL is 100 ppm (670 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 (LOQ 0.4 ppm). See Appendix A		Notes: BEI®		Notes:
Health factors: See NIH-NLM PubChem.		IDLH	150 ppm
Carcinogenic classifications: IARC-2A, NIOSH-Ca, NTP-R, TLV-A3		Notes: Ca
AIHA emergency response planning guidelines - ERPG-1/ERPG-2/ERPG-3: 100 ppm/200 ppm/1000 ppm

Additional Resources and Literature References

NOAA: CAMEO Chemicals - Perchloroethylene

NIOSH: Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Tetrachloroethylene

Literature References

EPA: Hazard Summary - Tetrachloroethylene
ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Tetrachloroethylene. See annual publication for most recent information.
ANSI: USA Standard Acceptable Concentrations of Tetrachloroethylene. 1967.
EPA IRIS Tetrachloroethylene, 2012
IARC, Lancet Oncology, 13:1192-1193, 2011
NIOSH: Criteria for a Recommended Standard - Occupational Exposure to Tetrachloroethylene. 1976.
NIOSH: Occupational Health Guideline for Tetrachloroethylene. 1978.
Gobba, F., Righi, E., Fantuzzi, G., Roccatto, L., Predieri, G., and Aggazzotti, G.: Perchloroethylene in alveolar air, blood, and urine as biologic indices of low-level exposure. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 45(11): 1152-1157, 2003.
Gobba, F., Righi, E., Fantuzzi, G., Predieri, G., Cavazzuti, L. and Aggazzotti, G.: Two-year evolution of perchloroethylene-induced color-vision loss. Arch. Environ. Health 53(3): 196-198, 1998.
Lash, L.H. and Parker, J.C.: Hepatic and renal toxicities associated with perchlorethylene. Pharmacol. Rev. 53(2): 177-208, 2001.
Lynge E. et al.: Cancer in persons working in dry cleaning in the Nordic countries. Environ Health Perspect. 114(2):213-9, February 2006.
Ruder, A.M., Ward, E.M. and Brown, D.P.: Mortality in dry-cleaning workers: an update. Am. J. Ind. Med. 39(2): 121-132, 2001.

Last Updated Date : 06/06/2022

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)

PERCHLOROETHYLENE (TETRACHLOROETHYLENE)†

Chemical Identification

Physical Properties

Monitoring Methods Used by OSHA

Bulk/Wipe Method

On-Site Screening Techniques

Exposure Limits

Additional Resources and Literature References