Tetrachloroethylene: Environmental effects
Description
Tetrachloroethylene will exist as a gas if released to the atmosphere. It dissolves only slightly when mixed with water. It also evaporates from soil and water when they are exposed to the air. In the air it is reacted into other chemicals, in several weeks. It has moderate acute (short-term) toxicity on aquatic life. It has moderate chronic (long-term) toxicity to aquatic life. Chronic and acute effects on plants, birds or land animals have not been determined, but appear to be low. Tetrachloroethylene does bioaccumulate to a limited extent. The concentration of tetrachloroethylene in the tissues of fish are expected to be somewhat higher than the concentration of tetrachloroethylene in the water from which the fish was taken.
Entering the environment
Industrial emissions of tetrachloroethylene can produce elevated concentrations in the atmosphere around the source. Most of the releases are to the air, releases to the soil and water quickly evaporate to the air. Since it does not bind to soil well, tetrachloroethylene that makes its way into the ground, and does not evaporate may move through the ground and enter groundwater (bore water). Tetrachloroethylene is also transported on clothes that have recently been to the dry cleaners.
Where it ends up
Tetrachloroethylene enters the air during production, use and transporting it. In the air it will break down into other chemicals (phosgene, a toxic chemical and chloroacetylchlorides) in a few weeks to a few months. Tetrachloroethylene and its products of degradation contribute to photochemical smog. Although most of the tetrachloroethylene released is to the air, when released to the soil it will either evaporate or leach into the ground water (bores). It will also quickly evaporate if released to surface water. In the soil and water bacteria will break it down, very slowly. In the soil and subsurface water it may last for months to years.
Environmental guidelines
No national guidelines.
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