Tetrachloroethylene health monitoring

Tetrachloroethylene (CAS 127-18-4) is a colourless, volatile, non-flammable, chlorinated hydrocarbon. It is used as a solvent and chemical intermediate.

Common uses for tetrachloroethylene are in textile processing and cleaning, degreasing and dry cleaning. The major uses of tetrachloroethylene are:

• as a solvent in dry cleaning
• as a degreasing agent in metal cleaning including railway cleaning
• for processing and finishing textiles
• manufacture and use for cleaning automotive products
• used to kill parasitic worms
• manufacture of fluorocarbons
• pesticides, mostly in grain fumigation
• as insulating fluid and cooling gas in electrical transformers
• paint, printing and adhesive manufacture and use
• coal industry
• petroleum refining
• carpet cleaning

This guide provides information for those registered medical practitioners engaged by a PCBU to carry out or supervise health monitoring for workers. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the following:

• Health monitoring guide for registered medical practitioners
• Health monitoring guides for hazardous chemicals
• Health monitoring guide for workers
• Health monitoring guide for persons conducting business or undertakings (PCBUs)