Tetrachloroethylene is a clear, nonflammable liquid, and is a commonly used solvent that has been in commercial use since the early 1900s. It can be found in water repellant, paint remover, printing ink, glue, sealant, polish, and can also be used to make other chemicals. Although it has been detected in small amounts in the air and in some sources of drinking water, the most common source of exposure is in the industries that use this chemical. Such industries are the dry-cleaning business, where it is used as a solvent, and businesses that degrease and clean metals, or need to dissolve greases and oils from fabrics. Because Tetrachloroethylene is a chlorinated hydrocarbon, it is a central nervous system depressant, and can easily enter the body through respiratory or dermal exposure, allowing this to be taken into the body dangerously easy. It can be inhaled and brought into the lungs, where it is then transferred into the blood and sent throughout the whole body. Most inhaled Tetrachloroethylene can be exhaled efficiently or excreted through the urinary system, but some may be left over and stored in the body. Exposure to this substance can be tested much like Blood-Alcohol Concentration using a device similar to a breathalyzer, or can be tested if given a blood sample directly. Depending on the amount of Tetrachloroethylene present in the …show more content…
Acute, high-level inhalation exposure in humans, can result in irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes, kidney dysfunction, and neurological effects such as reversible mood and behavioral changes, impairment of coordination, dizziness, headache, sleepiness, and unconsciousness. The primary effects from long term inhalation exposure at lower levels, are neurological effects, including sensory symptoms such as headaches, impairments in cognitive and motor neurobehavioral functioning and color vision