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What is Dichloroethylene (DCE)?
Dichloroethylene (DCE) is a highly flammable, colorless liquid with a sharp, harsh, ether-lik odor. You can smell very small amounts of DCE in the air (about 17 parts of DCE per million parts of air).
Uses
DCE is used primarily as a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of chlorinated solvents and compounds. It has also been used as a solvent for waxes, resins, perfumes, dyes, and thermoplastics.
Sources & Potential Exposure
DCE can be released in the air during its production or during the production of other consumer products such as plastic wrap and adhesives. The breakdown of PCE and TCE in groundwater also forms DCE as a daughter product. If large amounts are breathed in, eaten, or swallowed, cis-DCE can cause nausea, vomiting, blurred vision, difficulty breathing, liver or kidney problems, or death. Trans-DCE is an immune system toxicant and a neurotoxin.
Federal Regulations
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) have established guidelines for occupational exposure to cis- or trans- 1,2-dichloroethene. Average concentrations should not exceed 200 ppm in the air, and 200 ppb in drinking water.
