Chlorinated solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and perchloroethylene (PCE) have been shown to cause health problems to workers and the general population. Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been given the power to establish safeguards to protect human health and the environment from any risks. In December, 2024, the EPA announced new rules that banned the use of trichloroethylene (TCE) and many of the uses of perchloroethylene (PCE). By the end of 2025, most manufacturing and processing of TCE will be forbidden and all other uses will be phased out. Uses of PCE will be discontinued within three years and its use in dry cleaning within 10 years.
According to the EPA, “TCE is an extremely toxic chemical known to cause 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 fetal heart defects. These risks are present even at very small concentrations.” “PCE is known to cause liver, kidney, brain and testicular cancer, as well as damage to the kidney, liver and immune system, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity.”
TCE is used in consumer and commercial products such as cleaning and furniture care products, degreasers, sealants, lubricants, adhesives, paints and coatings, and some refrigerants. PCE is a solvent used as brake cleaners and adhesives, dry cleaning, and in many industrial settings. It is used as a chemical intermediate in the production of refrigerants and as a processing aid at petroleum refineries.
EPA’s final rules require worker protections for all remaining uses of TCE and PCE. The rule establishes an interim exposure limit (ECEL) of 0.2 ppm for TCE as an eight hour time-weighted average. This compares to an OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 100 ppm and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Value (TLV) of 10 ppm. The ECEL for PCE is 0.14 ppm. It is much lower than the OSHA PEL of 100 ppm and ACGIH TLV of 25 ppm. The EPA is also requiring a workplace chemical program and controls intended to limit occupational exposure for both chemicals. In addition, the EPA is requiring skin contact controls for PCE.
For many years toxicologists, industrial hygienists, and safety professionals have recognized the hazards of TCE, PCE, and any other chlorinated solvents. Substitutes have been found for these chemicals and their uses greatly reduced. Despite these advances, these chemicals are still out there. It may take a final push by the EPA to get rid of these harmful chemicals completely. In the meantime, employers should familiarize themselves with these rules, determine if TCE or PCE are still used in their workplaces, change processes, use alternatives, and eliminate these chemicals from their workplaces.
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