Trichloroethylene, or TCE, has been gaining notoriety for its toxicity as more and more companies are now becoming aware of the negative health effects that the hazardous solvent can cause. However, this chemical is still being used as an ingredient in several household and industrial products. Read on to learn about the dangers brought about by TCE cleaning products and the possible alternative to these solvents.
Dangers Of Using TCE Cleaning Products
While TCE is used in a variety of industrial settings, this chemical isn’t without its risks. Here are some of the associated dangers that come from short-term and long-term exposure to TCE:
- Being a known carcinogen, it can cause liver cancer, kidney cancer, and potentially lymphoma.
- High exposure levels can cause dizziness, nausea, headaches, confusion, liver damage, kidney damage, unconsciousness, or even death.
- Very high exposure levels can cause neurological damage, permanent cardiac issues, nerve damage, and liver damage.
- The solvent may also cause reproductive damage.
Most would assume that since TCE has been scientifically proven to cause these health effects in those who are consistently exposed, that it must be increasingly phased out by companies and removed from cleaning products, but that is not the case in the U.S.
Trichloroethylene is still widely used as a degreasing agent for metal equipment and trichloroethylene cleaning products are still present in both the industrial and consumer sectors. Some products that may contain TCE include:
- Cleaning wipes
- Paint removers
- Carpet cleaners
- Spot removers
Though the chemical has been banned in the state of Minnesota and banned in the use of consumer products in the EU, it has yet to be banned all throughout the U.S. Additionally, chemical exposure limits, which are set in place to prevent workers from being too exposed to the chemical, are outdated and have not been updated in decades.
Are There Any Effective Replacements?
The government and industrial sector’s lack of action for enacting effective trichloroethylene regulation has not stopped certain companies from making the switch to safer products that ensure worker safety without compromising efficiency. Various options are now readily available, and some are even more cost-effective because of the lack of compliance requirements.
Looking For An Alternative To TCE Cleaning Products?
LssChemicals provides chemical products for various industrial applications that ensure the safety of workers and the environment. Our main goal is to minimize excess chemical usage through sustainable chemicals.
You can browse our selection or reach out to our team of chemical experts by clicking here! We’ll help you find the best eco-friendly chemical products for your business’s specific needs.