ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION Tetrachloroethylene is a colorless, nonflammable liquid used mainly as a solvent in the dry cleaning industry and to a lesser extent as a solvent to degrease metals. It is heavier than water; it may enter the environment from industrial discharges, municipal waste treatment plant discharges, or spills.

ACUTE (SHORT-TERM) ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS Acute toxic effects may include the death of animals, birds, or fish, and death or low growth rate in plants. Acute effects are seen two to four days after animals or plants come in contact with a toxic chemical substance. Tetrachloroethylene has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the short- term effects of tetrachloroethylene to plants, birds, or land animals.

CHRONIC (LONG-TERM) ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS Chronic toxic effects may include shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility, and changes in appearance or behavior. Chronic effects can be seen long after first exposure(s) to a toxic chemical. Tetrachloroethylene has moderate chronic toxicity to aquatic life. Insufficient data are available to evaluate or predict the long- term effects of tetrachloroethylene to plants, birds, or land animals.

WATER SOLUBILITY Tetrachloroethylene is moderately soluble in water. Concentrations of between 1 to 1,000 milligrams will mix with a liter of water.

DISTRIBUTION AND PERSISTENCE IN THE ENVIRONMENT Tetrachloroethylene is non-persistent in water, with a half-life of less than 2 days. The half-life of a pollutant is the amount of time it takes for one-half of the chemical to be degraded. About 99.8% of tetrachloroethylene will eventually end up in air; the rest will end up in the water.

BIOACCUMULATION IN AQUATIC ORGANISMS Some substances increase in concentration, or bioaccumulate, in living organisms as they breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water, or eat contaminated food. These chemicals can become concentrated in the tissues and internal organs of animals and humans. The concentration of tetrachloroethylene found in fish tissues is expected to be somewhat higher than the average concentration of tetrachloroethylene in the water from which the fish was taken.

SUPPORT DOCUMENT: AQUIRE Database, ERL-Duluth, U.S. EPA. ............................................................................... .