Trichloroethylene, orTCE, is a toxicvolatile organic compound that easily evaporates at room temperature, leading to widespread contamination of the air, both indoors and outdoors, as well as soil and water.
Short-termexposure to TCE in high concentrations can cause dizziness, headaches and respiratory issues. Long-term exposure may result in serious health consequences, includingcancer,nervous system damage,Parkinson’s disease, andreproductive challenges.
In December 2024, the Environmental Protection Agencybanned TCE. It was to go into effect on March 21, but now some lawmakers want to reverse that ban.
TCE, a clear, colorless liquid, has also been found inhousehold products, including spray adhesives, aerosol cleaners and paint removers. So consumers have faced increased exposure if they use the chemicals in their homes and, unknowingly, inhale the vapors or absorb it through skin contact.
Millions of Americans, particularly those in residential communities near industrial facilities, have also been at risk of TCE exposure because of emissions from refineries, factories, power plants and military bases.
How TCE contaminates the environment
TCE in the air can come from a range of sources.
Industrial releases
TCE is commonly used inindustrial processes and onmilitary bases to help clean equipment, degrease metals and manufacture chemicals. During production, facilities may release TCE into the environment throughexhaust ventilation systems.
ManyU.S. cities have been polluted daily by TCE emissions from industrial facilities. And it’s not just communities near these facilities who are directly exposed to TCE, but vapor drift can harm distant communities, too.
Evaporation from contaminated soil and water
TCE can entersoil and groundwater from improper chemical and waste disposal – this type of contamination is highly mobile and can persist for decades.
TCE can persist in the air, too, releasing harmful fumes and contaminating both indoor and outdoor air.
In poor oxygen environments, such as in groundwater, TCE can break down into various byproducts, including1-dichloroethene, 2-dicholoroethene andvinyl chloride.
How TCE contaminates indoor air
TCE can also contaminate indoor air. Through cracks in building foundations andfloors, vapors from contaminated soil or groundwater can leak into the air through what’s calledvapor intrusion, leading to polluted air indoors.
Householdwater sources such as sink faucets, can release TCE into the air if the water is contaminated, especially if it’s used for washing dishes, cooking or showering.
In 2023, elevated TCE levels forced severalWisconsin apartment buildings to evacuate. Residents were displaced after moving into housing before required testing for the harmful chemicals had been completed. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about TCE exposure at home, leading toclass-action lawsuits and calls for stricter regulations of site testing and cleanup efforts.
In the early 2000s, residents ofMountain View, Calif., became concerned about health risks after discovering their exposure to harmful levels of TCE released from a nearby semiconductor plant.
This matter raised awareness about the long-term effects of TCE on public health, prompting theEPA to address concerns and regulate emissions.
EPA’s 2024 ban on TCE under threat
The agency’s December 2024 ban on most uses of TCE is a vital step to protect public health. This rule was based ondecades of scientific evidence showing that TCE is a carcinogen, linked to serious health conditions like cancer, birth defects and neurological disorders.
But somelawmakers are now working tooverturn the ban, putting the health and safety of millions of Americans at risk.
What you can do
You can use a few strategies to lower your exposure to TCE and improve the air quality in your home.
If you have high levels of TCE in your tap water, a whole-house filtration system may be needed to address exposure from drinking water as well as inhalation risks.
Additionally, if you know of TCE contamination in your community, tests of the air in your home may help determine whether you need avapor intrusion mitigation system to remove it from the air. Contact your state health department for more guidance.
It is critical to urge lawmakers in Congress to protect public health by rejecting any efforts to overturn the EPA’s ban on TCE.
It is also important to express concerns to state and local governments and advocate for stricter regulations, frequent monitoring of air quality and cleanup of contaminated sites.