National Toxicology Program

CASRN: 127-18-4

Formula: C2-Cl4

Synonyms/Common Names:

• PERCHLOROETHYLENE
• TETRACHLOROETHENE (9CI)

Known Uses:

Dry-cleaning solvent, metal degreaser, intermediate, textile processing, antihelmintic (Merck 1989). Associated with tobacco: reported either as a natural component of tobacco, pyrolysis product (in tobacco smoke), or additive for one or more types of tobacco products.

Short-Term Toxicity

• 14-Day (Gavage)  (C04580A)  Completed 
  • Rats: Osborne Mendel; Mice: B6C3F1
• 13-Week (Gavage)  (C04580A)  Completed 
  • Rats: Osborne Mendel; Mice: B6C3F1
  • Dose: R: 0,316,3160, M: 0,562,5620 MG/KG/10 PER GROUP.
• 13-Week (Inhalation)  (C04580F)  Completed 
  • Rats: F344/N; Mice: B6C3F1
  • Dose: 0,100,1600 PPM/10 PER GROUP.

Long-Term Carcinogenicity

• 2-Year (Gavage)  (C04580A)  Report Complete 
  • TR-013 (NIH Number: 77-813; NTIS Number: PB272940)  (Peer Review Approval 09/26/1977A )
    Bioassay of Tetrachloroethylene for Possible Carcinogenicity (CASRN 127-18-4)
  • Rats: Osborne Mendel; Mice: B6C3F1
  • Carcinogenesis Results
  • Male Rats Inadequate Study 
  • Female Rats Inadequate Study 
  • Male Mice Positive 
  • Female Mice Positive 
  • Dose: R: 0,600,1200 (AVG), MM: 0,500,1000 (AVG), FM: 0,350,700 (AVG) MG/KG/50 PER GROUP.
• 2-YEAR (Inhalation)  (C04580F)  Report Complete 
  • TR-311 (NIH Number: 86-2567; NTIS Number: PB87-147054)  (Peer Review Approval 08/14/1985A )
    Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) (CASRN 127-18-4) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Inhalation Studies)
  • Rats: F344/N; Mice: B6C3F1
  • Carcinogenesis Results
  • Male Rats Clear Evidence 
  • Female Rats Some Evidence 
  • Male Mice Clear Evidence 
  • Female Mice Clear Evidence 
  • Dose: R: 0,200,400, M: 0,100,200 PPM/50 PER GROUP.

Genetic Toxicology

• Chromosome Aberrations  (053083)  Completed 
  • Mice
  • Chromosome Aberation  Negative 
• In Vitro Cytogenetics (CA/SCE)  (214014)  Completed 
  • Citation: Anderson, B.E., Zeiger, E., Shelby, M.D., Resnick, M.A., Gulati, D.K., Ivett, J.L., and Loveday, K.S. Chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchange test results with 42 chemicals. Environ. Molec. Mutagen. Vol. 16 (Suppl 18) (1990) 55-137
  • Citation: Galloway, S., Armstrong, M., Reuben, C., Colman, S., Brown, B., Cannon, C., Bloom, A., Nakamura, F., Ahmed, M., Duk, S., Rimpo, J., Margolin, B., Resnick, M., Anderson, B., and Zeiger, E. Chromosome aberration and sister chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells: Evaluations of 108 chemicals. Environ. Molec. Mutagen. Vol. 10 (Suppl 10) (1987) 1-176
  • Sister Chromatid Exchange Negative 
  • Chromosome Aberation Negative 
• Drosophila  (602369)  Completed 
  • Citation: Valencia, R., Mason, J.M., Woodruff, R.C., and Zimmering, S. Chemical mutagenesis testing in Drosophila: III. Results of 48 coded compounds tested for the National Toxicology Program. Environ. Mutagen. Vol. 7 (1985) 325-348
  • Reciprocal Translocation/Sex-Linked Recessive Lethal Negative 
• Mouse Lymphoma  (616544)  Completed 
  • Citation: Myhr B.C., McGregor, D., Bowers, L., Riach, C., Brown, A., Edwards, I., McBride, D., Martin, R., and Caspary, W.J. L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell mutation assay results with 41 compounds. Environ. Molec. Mutagen. Vol. 16 (Suppl 18) (1990) 138-167
  • Mice
  •  Equivocal 
• Mouse Lymphoma  (642016)  Completed 
  • Citation: McGregor, D., Brown, A., Cattanach, P., Edwards, I., McBride, D., Riach, C., and Caspary, W. Responses of the L5178Y tk+/tk- mouse lymphoma cell forward mutation assay: III. 72 coded chemicals. Environ. Molec. Mutagen. Vol. 12 (1988) 85-154
  • Citation: Myhr B.C., McGregor, D., Bowers, L., Riach, C., Brown, A., Edwards, I., McBride, D., Martin, R., and Caspary, W.J. L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell mutation assay results with 41 compounds. Environ. Molec. Mutagen. Vol. 16 (Suppl 18) (1990) 138-167
  • Mice
  •  Equivocal 
• Mouse Lymphoma  (776521)  Completed 
  • Citation: Myhr B.C., McGregor, D., Bowers, L., Riach, C., Brown, A., Edwards, I., McBride, D., Martin, R., and Caspary, W.J. L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell mutation assay results with 41 compounds. Environ. Molec. Mutagen. Vol. 16 (Suppl 18) (1990) 138-167
  • Mice
  •  Equivocal 
• Micronucleus  (245795)  Completed 
  • Mice: B6C3F1
  • Male Negative 
• Salmonella  (269792)  Completed 
  • Citation: Haworth, S., Lawlor, T., Mortelmans, K., Speck, W., and Zeiger, E. Salmonella mutagenicity test results for 250 chemicals Environ. Mutagen. Vol. 5 (Suppl 1) (1983) 3-142
  •  Negative 

Organ Systems Toxicity

• 5 days/week for 3 weeks before breeding &/or 1 to 6 GD & 7 to 21 GD Conventional Teratology (Inhalation)  (T0097A)  Completed 
  • NTIS Number: PB82-185075
    Citation: Teratogenic-Mutagenic Risk of Workplace Contaminents: Trichloroethylene, Perchloroethylene, Carbon Disulfide
  • Female Rabbit: New Zealand White
  • Dose: 500 PPM 7 HR/DY.
• 5 days/week for 3 weeks before breeding &/or 1 to 6 GD & 7 to 21 GD Conventional Teratology (Inhalation)  (T0097B)  Completed 
  • NTIS Number: PB82-185075
    Citation: Teratogenic-Mutagenic Risk of Workplace Contaminents: Trichloroethylene, Perchloroethylene, Carbon Disulfide
  • Female Rats: Sprague Dawley
  • Dose: 500 PPM 7 HR/DY.