What is tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and the health effects?
Tetrachloroethylene is a man-made chemical that has been widely used as a cleaning agent in the dry cleaning industry and as a metal degreaser in the manufacturing industry. It is also used as a building block for making other chemicals in the chemical manufacturing industry. PCE evaporates readily and produces a sharp, sweet smell. Most PCE enters the environment by evaporating into the air from factories, storage tanks, hazardous waste sites or other contaminated areas. Once in air, PCE can take from 1 hour to 2 months to be broken down by sunlight, or wash back to the soil by rainfall. PCE may also enter soil and groundwater when contaminated materials leak or spill. PCE in the soil will tend to evaporate to the air. Some PCE may travel through the soil and contaminate groundwater. Once PCE enters the groundwater, it breaks down very slowly. Humans can be exposed to PCE in groundwater if they use contaminated water for drinking or cooking. Another route of exposure is by inhalation
