Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene and Some Other Chlorinated Agents
IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans Series, Vol. 106

This volume of the IARC Monographs provides an assessment of the carcinogenic hazards associated with exposure to seven chlorinated solvents, including trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, and their metabolites (dichloroacetic acid, trichloroacetic acid, and chloral hydrate). All these agents were previously assessed by IARC Working Groups more than 10 years ago, and new epidemiological and mechanistic evidence has been considered in this reevaluation. Trichloroethylene has been used in several industries, such as manufacture and repair of aircraft and automobiles, and in screw-cutting, while tetrachloroethylene is widely used in dry-cleaning and as a feedstock for the production of chlorinated chemicals. The IARC Monographs Working Group relied on epidemiological evidence, carcinogenicity bioassays, and mechanistic and other relevant data to evaluate the carcinogenic hazards to humans exposed to these agents.