Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a halocarbon with the formula C 2 HCl 3, commonly used as an industrial metal-degreasing solvent. It is a clear, colourless, non-flammable, volatile liquid with a chloroform -like pleasant mild smell [ 3 ] and sweet taste. [ 9 ]

Apr 14, 2021 · Colorless liquid (unless dyed blue) with a chloroform-like odor. 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 …

Trichloroethylene (CASRN 79-01-6) – also called TCE – is a nonflammable, colorless liquid and a volatile chemical with a somewhat sweet odor.

EPA has set a maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 5 µg/L (5 ppb) in drinking water (EPA, 2020). Food: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set maximum permissible level of 5 µg/L of TCE in bottled water.

In December 2024, EPA finalized a risk management rule to address unreasonable risk posed by trichloroethylene (TCE) to human health. Learn more about risk management for TCE.

Mar 6, 2025 · Trichloroethylene (TCE) has various uses, but it is commonly utilized as a solvent for cleaning, adhesives, and paints, or for extracting fats and oils from materials.

During 2005, TCE was detected in 2,292 out of 46,937 samples (4.9%) collected from groundwater-supplied systems and 1,874 out of 12,705 samples (14.8%) collected from surface-water supplied systems (ATSDR, 2019).

In December 2024, EPA issued a final rule regulating TCE under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to protect people from health risks including liver cancer, kidney cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. TCE also causes damage to the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, immune system, reproductive organs, and causes fetal heart defects.

Apr 16, 2025 · On December 17, 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to regulate trichloroethylene (TCE). The rule broadly prohibits TCE use, with time-limited exemptions for certain critical applications.

In the atmosphere, TCE is destroyed by photooxidation, with a half-life of 3–8 days during the summer months and approximately 2 weeks in cold climates during the winter. This relatively short half-life significantly limits the transport of TCE in air.