By: Danielle Clegg

*Tetrachloroethene was first synthesized in 1821 by Michael Faraday. He heated Hexachloroethane till it decomposed to Tetrachloroethene and chlorine. Also tetrachloroethlene is produced ethylene 1,2-dichloroethane. When 1,2-dichloroethane is heated to 400°C with chlorine. tetrachloroethlene can result from the chemical reaction. It’s called Perctm and is used for dry cleaning and vapor degreasing products and is very important to the textile industry. It has been banned in most part because the shops and industries would dispose of it wrong.

History

*It is used as a solvent, most organics materials dissolve in tetrachloroethene. It’s in dry cleaning chemicals and vapor degreasing for auto parts and sometimes in paint strippers. Until the early 1990’s when tetrachloroethene was used for manufacturing of freon refrigerants. The chemicals it was made into are now banned in most of the world under Montreal protocol so it’s not used for that anymore.

*As a benefit I guess it makes some peoples lives and jobs easier since were always looking for the quickest way to get things done.

*Very important in the textile industry mostly in aerosol cans.

*Acute effects- when the vapors are Inhaled Irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes and neurological effect like behavioural changes and reversible mood

*Major effects- higher risk of getting cancer mostly in the bladder.

* Animal studies (mice) have reported effects on the liver, kidney, and central nervous system

*It pollutes the air (indoor and out door) and when disposed of wrong it contaminates water like our Great Lakes which all have shown in tests that Tetrachloroethene is in them, it can also seep threw the ground in the form of a liquid. Also we are concerned it will enter the atmosphere.

Alternatives

*http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1527592200900119

*http://www.ec.gc.ca/toxiques-toxics/Default.asp?lang=En&n=98E80CC6-1&xml=6CEC27AA-B6C0-4021-9839-B6854977C06D

*http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/environmental/200605drycleaning.html

*http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/tetrachloroethylene.cfm

*http://www.worldofmolecules.com/solvents/tce.htm