What is TCE?
TCE is a man-made chemical primarily used to remove grease from metal parts and produce other chemicals such as refrigerants. It is also found in some spray adhesives, paint removers, varnishes, lubricants, and spot removers. TCE is referred to as trichloroethylene or trichloroethene.
How can I be exposed to TCE?
Although safer alternatives have become available for many uses and regulations have become stricter, people can be exposed to TCE in contaminated soil and groundwater from current and former industrial and military uses to degrease metals and equipment. Wastewater from these activities may contain TCE that can enter groundwater and/or soil. If drinking water is contaminated, people can be exposed by drinking, cooking, washing dishes or clothing, and showering or bathing.
Because TCE evaporates quickly into air, the indoor air of homes or buildings can be contaminated with TCE from soil or groundwater through a process called vapor intrusion. People in these buildings can then be exposed to TCE by breathing the contaminated air. TCE can also enter indoor air from the use of TCE-containing products.
How can TCE affect my health?
High exposure to TCE during early pregnancy may increase the risk for certain types of heart defects in the developing fetus. Some studies have shown that exposure to TCE over the long term can lead to an increased risk of developing some autoimmune conditions.
Exposure to high levels of TCE in the air can cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract, as well as central nervous system effects, including dizziness, headache, confusion, and nausea. Exposure to high levels can also result in changes in the rhythm of the heartbeat, liver damage, and kidney damage.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have all determined that TCE has the potential to cause cancer. The more TCE that a person is exposed to and the longer the length of time a person is exposed, the greater the risk of developing cancer. Studies of workers exposed to TCE in the workplace have shown an increased risk of kidney cancer. Some limited evidence suggests increased risks for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and liver cancer.
What is the drinking water standard for TCE?
The EPA and Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of TCE is 0.005 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
In Massachusetts, local Boards of Health and Health Departments have the authority to regulate private wells and may establish criteria for their location, construction, water quality, and quantity. Additional information for residents who use private wells is available from MassDEP.
What are the testing requirements for TCE?
In Massachusetts, all public water systems are initially required to test for TCE for four consecutive quarters (every three months for a year) and repeat every three years. Based on the results, a public water system may reduce its testing frequency with approval by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).