Difference in uptake, elimination, and metabolism in exposure to trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane and tetrachloroethylene

Abstract

The relatively high and almost constant absorption/min of trichloroethylene (TRI) is explained by the relatively high partition coefficient between blood and air (λb/g = 15) combined with the rapid metabolism (75 %). Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) has about the same λb/g as TRI, but the metabolism is insignificant (2 %); therefore, the amount taken up/min decreases in the course of exposure. The λb/g (5) for 1,1,1-trichloroethane (MC) is smaller, the metabolism is insignificant (3.5 %), therefore the capacity of the body to absorb MC is relatively small and in consequence the uptake/min decreases fast in the course of exposure. Due to the lower λb/g the excretion of MC after exposure is much faster than of PERC. As a result of the metabolism of TRI only a relatively small amount of TRI absorbed is excreted by the lungs after exposure. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.