Deaths from acute exposure to trichloroethylene. 1995

E S Ford, and S Rhodes, and M McDiarmid, and S L Schwartz, and J Brown
National Center for Environmental Health, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a commonly used halogenated hydrocarbon in industry. We report on deaths attributed to TCE exposure that occurred between 1975 and 1992. In addition, we present a case report from the most recent death, including tissue concentration modeling. The deaths shared a number of features. All occurred in young men who were usually working in confined spaces without adequate ventilation. These preventable deaths suggest that safety precautions are not being observed by workers and employers. Employers should ensure that their employees are adequately trained in the dangers of working with TCE, that adequate ventilation of the working environment is provided, that the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) is available to their workers, and that workers should not work alone or unobserved when using TCE in confined spaces.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D002617 Chemical Industry The aggregate enterprise of manufacturing and technically producing chemicals. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed) Industry, Chemical,Chemical Industries,Industries, Chemical
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000062 Accidents, Occupational Unforeseen occurrences, especially injuries in the course of work-related activities. Accidents, Industrial,Industrial Accidents,Occupational Accidents,Accident, Industrial,Accident, Occupational,Industrial Accident,Occupational Accident
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014241 Trichloroethylene A highly volatile inhalation anesthetic used mainly in short surgical procedures where light anesthesia with good analgesia is required. It is also used as an industrial solvent. Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of the vapor can lead to cardiotoxicity and neurological impairment. Ethinyl Trichloride,Trichloroethene,Trielina,Trilene,Trichloride, Ethinyl
D016273 Occupational Exposure The exposure to potentially harmful chemical, physical, or biological agents that occurs as a result of one's occupation. Exposure, Occupational,Exposures, Occupational,Occupational Exposures
D016902 Air Pollution, Indoor The contamination of indoor air. Air Quality, Indoor,Indoor Air Pollution,Indoor Air Quality,Pollution, Indoor Air
D017809 Fatal Outcome Death resulting from the presence of a disease in an individual, as shown by a single case report or a limited number of patients. This should be differentiated from DEATH, the physiological cessation of life and from MORTALITY, an epidemiological or statistical concept. Fatal Outcomes,Outcome, Fatal,Outcomes, Fatal

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