Trichloroethylene
Company (GE); Halogenated Solvents Industry
Alliance (HSIA), Inc.; and the American
During fiscal year 2001, ATSDR reviewed and
Chemistry Council (ACC), formerly called the
accepted the conclusions of an HSIA study
Chemical Manufacturers Association. The activ-
assessing the developmental toxicity of trichlo-
ities associated with this program are respon-
roethylene, a substance found in at least 993
sible for monetary savings to the agency
NPL sites. This study addresses an important
approaching million.
research need for trichloroethylene, that is,
to determine whether infant development is
In addition to the substance-specific
affected by breathing this chemical. The HSIA
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with
study was conducted in rats exposed to trichlo-
these three organizations, ATSDR also signed
roethylene via inhalation for 6 hours a day, 7
an MOU with the Electric Power Research
days a week on days 620 of gestation to evalu-
Institute, Inc. (EPRI) in fiscal year 2001. EPRI
ate the substance's potential for maternal and
volunteered to support a study, "Verification
developmental toxicity. The HSIA study did not
of Techniques for Assessing the Effects
indicate developmental toxicity at any of the
of Neurotoxicants on Neurodevelopment in
concentrations used ranging from 50 to 600
Children" that is being administered by a grant
ppm trichloroethylene. However, at 600 ppm,
from ATSDR to the University of Rochester.
maternal toxicity was noted as significant
The objective of the study is to validate a
decreases in body weight gain on gestation days
battery of neurodevelopmental tests for use in
6 through 9. HSIA plans to submit a study
assessing the effects of prenatal or postnatal
protocol to use physiologically based pharma-
exposure to developmental neurotoxicants. The
cokinetic modeling to estimate oral intakes
validation of these tests will be useful for fur-
of trichloroethylene-contaminated environmen-
ther assessing the developmental neurotoxicity
tal media that would not produce human devel-
of some of the ATSDR priority substances, such
opmental toxicity.
as PCBs, methylmercury, and lead. In addition
to the private sector support, ATSDR is
Research Program of the
coordinating a federal effort (via interagency
agreements with EPA, the Food and Drug
Minority Health Professions
Administration, and the National Institute of
Foundation
Environmental Health Sciences) to support the
study.
The Minority Health Professions Foundation's
Environmental Health and Toxicology Research
Substances With Some Research Needs
Program is a partnership that involves minority
Addressed By Private-Sector Voluntarism
health-professions schools located throughout
the nation. A major component of the
Methylene chloride
Substance-Specific Applied Research Program,
Polychlorinated biphenyls
this research program provides ATSDR with a
Tetrachloroethylene
major mechanism for filling gaps in knowledge
Trichloroethylene
about the effects of hazardous substances on
Vinyl chloride
human health.
chapter 2 37