1,1,1-trichloroethane is a colourless man-made chemical that has a sweet, yet sharp odour. It occurs as a liquid at room temperature. It is highly volatile and non-flammable.
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Common name: Trichlorethane, TCE.
Use
1,1,1-trichloroethane is made by industry and its former use was as a solvent to dissolve other substances, for example, glue and paint, and as a cleaning agent to remove oil and grease. In the home it was used in products such as spot cleaners and aerosol sprays. The manufacture and use of 1,1,1-trichloroethane is now prohibited except the use as feedstock for other chemicals. The main current use is as feedstock for production of HCFCs and other CFC substitutes.
Releases to the environment
Due to its highly volatile nature, a high proportion of 1,1,1-trichloroethane that is released soon enters the atmosphere. Leachate from contaminated waste disposal sites may also contain 1,1,1-trichloroethane. There are believed to be no natural sources of the compound.
Impacts on the environment and human health
Excessive exposure to 1,1,1-trichloroethane may affect the brain, eye, heart, lung, liver and skin. It is not expected that acutely toxic levels of 1,1,1-trichloroethane to aquatic and terrestrial organisms will be reached under environmental conditions – only in case of accidental spills. It evaporates rapidly from water and soil and has little tendency to accumulate in aquatic life. It contributes in the destruction of the earth’s protective ozone layer, which shields life on earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
International actions
1,1,1-trichloroethane is controlled under the Montreal Protocol. Furthermore 1,1,1-trichloroethane is on the EU-Commissions EPER list and listed in the PRTR Protocol under the Århus Convention.
CAS NO: 71-55-6