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Trichloroethylene

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Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Part of the book series: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ((RECT,volume 106))

Abstract

Trichloroethylene is also called TCE, trichloroethene, acetylene trichloride, Tri, and Trilene. A synthetic chemical with no natural sources, TCE is an industrial solvent and degreaser for metal components. Its structure and properties are listed in Table 1.

In 1982 200 million lb (90.72 million kg) of TCE were produced (USITC 1983). The major avenue by which TCE is released to the environment is its use as a metal degreaser. Since TCE is not consumed during this use, most of it produced in this country is eventually released to the environment. Most of the releases occur by evaporation to the atmosphere. Any TCE that is not lost to evaporation becomes heavily contaminated with grease and oil and is then buried in landfills, dumped on the ground, or put into sewers. Because metals working operations are performed nationwide, TCE releases occur in all industrialized areas. Releases during production and other uses are relatively minor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, 85721, Tuscon, Arizona, USA

    George W. Ware

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  1. George W. Ware
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  1. College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, 85721, Tuscon, Arizona, USA

    George W. Ware

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© 1988 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Ware, G.W. (1988). Trichloroethylene. In: Ware, G.W. (eds) Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 106. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3922-2_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3922-2_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-8402-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-3922-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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