Draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene (Ethene, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloro-); CASRN 127-18-4
Author: U.S. EPA
(2020)
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention..
HERO ID: 6311014
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This draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene was performed in accordance with the Frank R. Lautenberg . . .
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This draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene was performed in accordance with the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act and is being disseminated for public comment and peer review. The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Nation’s primary chemicals management law, in June 2016. As per EPA’s final rule, Procedures for Chemical Risk Evaluation Under the Amended Toxic Substances Control Act (82 FR 33726), EPA is taking comment on this draft, and will also obtain peer review on this draft risk evaluation for PCE. All conclusions, findings, and determinations in this document are preliminary and subject to comment. The final risk evaluation may change in response to public comments received on the draft risk evaluation and/or in response to peer review, which itself may be informed by public comments. The preliminary conclusions, findings, and determinations in this draft risk evaluation are for the purpose of identifying whether the chemical substance presents unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment under the conditions of use, including unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation (PESS) in accordance with TSCA section 6, and are not intended to represent any findings under TSCA section 7.
PCE is subject to federal and state regulations and reporting requirements. PCE has been a reportable Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) chemical under Section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) since 1987. It is designated a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) under the Clean Air Act (CAA), and is a hazardous substance under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA). It is subject to National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and designated as a toxic pollutant under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and as such is subject to effluent limitations.
PCE is currently manufactured, processed, distributed, used, and disposed of as part of industrial, commercial, and consumer conditions of use. PCE has a wide-range of uses, including production of fluorinated compounds, and as a solvent in dry cleaning and vapor degreasing. A variety of consumer and commercial products use PCE such as adhesives (arts and crafts, as well as light repairs), aerosol degreasing, brake cleaners, aerosol lubricants, sealants, stone polish, stainless steel polish and other wipe cleaners (cleaners used for wiping surfaces). EPA evaluated the following categories of conditions of use: manufacturing; processing; distribution in commerce, industrial, commercial and consumer uses and disposal. The yearly aggregate production volume ranged from 388 to 324 million pounds between 2012 and 2015.