TCA in groundwater

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Introduction to Environmental risk analysis - course

Groupwork

Mikko Pohjola
Juha Villman


James L. Byard: Hazard Assessment of 1,1,1-Trichloroethane in Groundwater

Identification of Hazard

In text: chapters 8 Toxicology & 9 Estimation of nontoxic dose

  • TCA has been used as an industrial degreasing solvent
  • TCA is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and 30 % from the lungs
  • Chemical is rapidly distributed to all tissues via bloodstream
  • Chronic toxicity
    • Reported in several studies for no toxicity, no excess cancers, no marked oncogenic effect, no effect on mortality or body weight
    • One study reported excess of leukemias in rats exposed to TCA
  • Only few weakly positive results for mutagenicity of TCA
    • These results can be explained by butylene oxide present in some commercial formulations of TCA
  • No teratogenic effects in rodents exposed to TCA
  • TCA is relatively nontoxic chemical
  • High dose of TCA can cause:
    • Narcosis
    • Mild organ pathology
    • Irritation of respiratory tract

Dose-Response assessment

In text: 8 Toxicology & 9 Estimation of nontoxic dose

  • 15 minutes of vapor concentrations of TCA increasing from 0 to 2650 ppm
    • Mild eye irritation at 1000 - 1100 ppm
    • Throat irritation at 1900 - 2000 pm
    • Lightheadedness at 2600 ppm
    • Inability to stand at 2650 ppm

Exposure assessment

In text: 6 Exposure & 7 Determination of dose

  • Domestic wells
  • Routes
    • ingestion
    • dermal
    • lungs

Ingestion

  • 2 litres of water per day per 70 kg
  • Complete absorption
  • 0,0286 ug/kg day (Water containing 1 ppb TCA)

Toilet bowl

  • 1 h/day
  • respiration rate of 18m3/day
  • 70 kg body weight
  • 30 % uptake from the lungs
  • 0,00032 ug/kg day (Water containing 1 ppb TCA)

Shower

  • Highest inhalation exposure due to large volume of hot water and small air volume of a shower stall
  • 10 minute shower
  • 50 litres of water containing 1 ppb TCA
  • 0,00358 ug/kg day
  • Additional dermal vapor absortion is 1 % of the inhalation dose
  • 0,0072 ug/kg day

Bath

  • 100 litres of water at 50 celcius for 20 minutes
  • Total inhalation is 0,00179 ug/kg day(Water containing 1 ppb TCA)
  • Dermal absorption from the vapor is 1 %
  • Dermal absorption from the bath water is 0,0457 ug/kg day
  • Total dose from bath (inhale, water and vapor) is 0,0475 ug/kg day

Total dose

  • Worst case bathroom exposure: 1 bath per day + staying bathroom for 1 hour + ingestion of 2 litres
  • 0,0286 ug/kg day + 0,0478 ug/kg day = 0,0764 ug/kg day (Water containing 1 ppb TCA)

Risk Characterization

In text: 10 Conclusions & 9 Estimation of nontoxic dose