RECORD NUMBER: 200-170491

CAS REGISTRY NUMBER: 71-55-6

CHEMICAL FAMILY: Halogenated hydrocarbon / Chlorinated alkane

MOLECULAR FORMULA: C2-H3-Cl3

DESCRIPTION: Colourless, volatile liquid with a sweetish, chloroform-like odour.

USAGE: Used as a solvent for metal degreasing, natural and synthetic resins, oils, waxes, tar and alkaloids; for adhesives and coatings; for textile-dyeing operations; used in dry-cleaning operations; cleaning electrical machinery; coolant and lubricant in metal-cutting oils; and as extraction solvent and chemical intermediate in the chemical industry.

Agricultural - Additive to pesticides.

Industrial - Predominant usage as solvent.

Domestic - White out.

TOLERANCE & EXPOSURE LEVELS: Odour Threshold - 44-100 ppm

 ROUTES OF EXPOSURE: Humans can be exposed dermally and by inhalation of air at occupational sites, from ambient air, household products containing 1,1,1-Trichloroethane (cleansers, polishes, lubricants, paint removers) or ingestion of contaminated food and water. (4)

 HEALTH EFFECTS:

SHORT TERM: Acute exposure to high levels (above 900 ppm) of 1,1,1- trichloroethane can depress the nervous system and cause headache, dizziness and fatigue. Short term impaired performance of behavioural tests was also reported. At high levels (greater than 5000 ppm), 1,1,1- trichloroethane can cause unconsciousness, respiratory depression and death. Ingestion can cause severe gastrointestinal irritation characterized by vomiting and diarrhea. Contact with eyes or skin can result in mild irritation.(1) Other acute exposure effects are renal and hepatic damage.(2)

 LONG TERM: Little information available. Volunteers exposed to 500 ppm 7hrs/day for 5 days felt tired and had slight problems with balance. Prolonged exposure has caused skin burns.(1) Chronic exposure may result in paralysis and increased susceptibility to viral hepatitis. (2)

1,1,1-Trichloroethane exposure can cause sensitisation of the heart to epinephrine.(2)

 CARCINOGENICITY: No human data. Animal studies are inconclusive. (1)

MUTAGENICITY: No human data. Animal and cell studies indicate that 1,1,1-trichloroethane is probably not mutagenic.(1)

REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS: No human data

 BIO-ACCUMULATION: Eliminated mainly in the exhaled air and in the urine, breakdown products (as trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid) were detected in the urine up to 12 days after exposure had stopped. Stored in the fat tissues temporarily. (1)

Detected in 8/8 U.S. breast milk samples from urban areas. Detected in whole blood, in 59% of non occupationally exposed West Germans, <0.1-3.4ppb, with a median of 0.2ppb. (4) Detected in blood samples from children in Northern NSW.(3)

 Suspected effects: Carcinogenisis, mutagenisis and prenatal damage.(2)

 ANIMAL TOXICITY DATA: LD50 (oral, rat): 10 300 mg/kg

LD50 (skin, rabbit): about 15 000 mg/kg (Dow)

LC50 (rat): 24 000 ppm/1-hr exposure;

18 400 ppm/4-hr exposure;

Rats exposed to 12 000 ppm of 1,1,1-trichloroethane

for 7 hours showed slight liver damage. (1)

CARCINOGENICITY: A feeding study in rats and mice gave inconclusive results; a few liver tumours were seen in treated mice, but survival of treated animals was low. (1) IARC considered the available information inadequate for evaluation.

REPRODUCTIVE EFFECTS: Birth defects were not observed in the rodent offspring. At high levels some indication of fetotoxicity.(1)

MUTAGENICITY: Some limited positive results and many negative results have been reported from tests in bacteria. It appears that 1,1,1-trichloroethane is probably not mutagenic. (1)

Wildlife Data:

 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS:

Environmental Fate: When released into surface water 1,1,1 Trichloroethane will decrease in concentration due to evaporation. Detected in 133 US cities finished surface water at 0.4ppb median and 23 US cities finished groundwater at 2.1ppb median. (22% of sample positive) (4)

 When spilt on soil it will volatilize and percolate into groundwater, with very slow degradation in subsoils (no degradation was observed in subsurface soils in 27 weeks).

Average U.S. background levels; in soil: 0.42ppb in sediment: 0.45ppb (4)

When released into air it will be transported long distances (half life of 6 months to 25 years)and return to earth in rain.

Atmospheric Concentrations: U.S. Rural: av. 110 ppt [1977-80] Urban: av. 420ppt (max 700-8000ppt)

(4)

Water MRL:

 EPA DATA GAPS:

NOTES: Those with heart condition should avoid exposure. (1)

COMBUSTION (THERMAL DECOMPOSITION) PRODUCTS : Hydrogen chloride (HCl)

and trace amounts of phosgene at 500 deg C (932 deg F) (1)

** Disclaimer: These sheets are designed as summary information and as such

are a guide only. The information is compiled from publicly available references which can

be supplied on request.

References:

1.Canadian Centre of Occupational Health Database - CCINFO

2.Pesticides and Human Health, W.H.Hallenbeck&K.M.Cunningham-Burns School

of Public Health, Uni. of Illinois Chicago, Springer-Verlag 1986

3.Coffs Harbour Chemical Data Base

4.Handbook of Environmental Fate and Exposure Data for Organic Chemicals,

Vol1 Large Production and Priority Pollutants., Philip H. Howard 1989

Lewis Publishers Inc. USA