Trichloroethylene, TCE is an industrial solvent that is used in some industries and is found in household products such as adhesives, paint and stain removers, and parts cleaners. Usually it’s in a liquid form, but it is highly volatile, meaning it easily becomes airborne. When it does, the emissions must be properly controlled or they can be harmful to breathe. Often exposure comes from the workplace or a company “dumping” it. TCE has some serious and potentially deadly affects. Cancer is among the most dangerous of the problems. Studies have shown that TCE produces
CNS effects
decreased appetite
gastrointestinal irritation
headaches
mucous membrane
skin irritation
Hepatotoxicity, or chemical driven liver damage has been associated primarily with TCE inhalation and ingestion of very large amounts.
Renal failure has been reported in concert with confirmed hepatic damage.
Cardiac dysrhythmias may be induced by heavy TCE exposure.
Neurological Effects
Complaints due to chronic exposure in studies have included:
a reduced number of word associations
ataxia
decreased appetite
headache
short-term memory loss
sleep disturbances
vertigo
A study found neurobehavioral deficits from exposures to drinking water contaminated with to TCE (Reif, Burch et al. 2003).
When swallowed, TCE causes gastrointestinal (GI) irritation, with possible inflammation of the GI tract, manifested as:
abdominal pain
diarrhea
nausea
vomiting
Studies that have examined exposure to TCE and development of kidney disease (Lash, Parker et al. 2000).
Cardiac Effects were seen in some workers accidentally exposed to TCE at a level that was unspecified but at least 15 ppm
Reproductive and Developmental Effects are possible.
Most importantly there are serious possible, Carcinogenic (Cancer Effects from TCE.
A meta-analysis of these cohort studies found that occupational exposure to TCE was associated with excess incidences of liver cancer, kidney cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate cancer, and multiple myeloma, with the strongest evidence for the first three cancers (Wartenberg, Reyner et al. 2000; NTP 2004).
A study (Massachusetts Department of Public Health 1996) performed in Woburn, Massachusetts by the Massachusetts Department of Health (1996) found an elevated risk of childhood leukemia in a group exposed to TCE in utero.
The New Jersey study (Bove, Fulcomer et al. 1995) found associations with childhood leukemia among females and with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma..
TCE is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on limited evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans, sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals, which indicates there is an increased incidence of malignant and/or a combination of malignant and benign tumors at multiple tissue sites in multiple species of experimental animals, and information suggesting TCE acts through mechanisms that indicate it would likely cause cancer in humans (NTP 2004).
Other Effects such as, Respiratory, Skin, Immune System are possible as well.
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