Biomaterial Database

Assessment of trichloroethylene as an occupational carcinogen. 1979

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The reaction is described of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the US to the results of experimental studies which showed that tetrachlorethylene is carcinogenic. Parallels are given with vinyl chloride, which it resembles structurally. The main occupational exposure to trichloroethylene is in the vapour degreasing of metal parts. The machine used for this activity is described, and it is shown that there is a high potential exposure. Possible control measures are outlined. The main evidence for the potential carcinogenicity of trichloroethylene is the occurrence of its epoxide as an intermediate in its metabolism to chloroethanol; species differences have been observed. Epdemiological studies have so far been inconclusive. NIOSH decided that trichloroethylene is potentially carcinogenic in the workplace, but only weakly so. No new standard has been recommended, although a lowering of the present standard is recommended.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D009369	Neoplasms	New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms.	Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D009374	Neoplasms, Experimental	Experimentally induced new abnormal growth of TISSUES in animals to provide models for studying human neoplasms.	Experimental Neoplasms,Experimental Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Experimental
D002274	Carcinogens, Environmental	Carcinogenic substances that are found in the environment.	Environmental Carcinogens
D004781	Environmental Exposure	The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents in the environment or to environmental factors that may include ionizing radiation, pathogenic organisms, or toxic chemicals.	Exposure, Environmental,Environmental Exposures,Exposures, Environmental
D004851	Epoxide Hydrolases	Enzymes that catalyze reversibly the formation of an epoxide or arene oxide from a glycol or aromatic diol, respectively.	Epoxide Hydrase,Epoxide Hydrases,Epoxide Hydratase,Epoxide Hydratases,Epoxide Hydrolase,9,10-Epoxypalmitic Acid Hydrase,Microsomal Epoxide Hydrolase,Styrene Epoxide Hydrolase,9,10 Epoxypalmitic Acid Hydrase,Acid Hydrase, 9,10-Epoxypalmitic,Epoxide Hydrolase, Microsomal,Epoxide Hydrolase, Styrene,Hydrase, 9,10-Epoxypalmitic Acid,Hydrase, Epoxide,Hydrases, Epoxide,Hydratase, Epoxide,Hydratases, Epoxide,Hydrolase, Epoxide,Hydrolase, Microsomal Epoxide,Hydrolase, Styrene Epoxide,Hydrolases, Epoxide
D005060	Europe	The continent north of AFRICA, west of ASIA and east of the ATLANTIC OCEAN.	Northern Europe,Southern Europe,Western Europe
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia

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