Carbon tetrachloride

Synonyms

Carbon chloride; Carbon TET; Freon 10; Halon 104; Tetrachloromethane; [NIOSH]

Category

Chlorinated Aliphatics

Description

Colorless liquid with a characteristic ether-like odor; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used in the past as dry-cleaning agent and fumigant; Currently used as a chemical intermediate and in small amounts as a spot cleaner; [ACGIH; LaDou, p. 552] Has been used as a metal degreaser, cleaning agent in the semiconductor industry, and a solvent for lacquers, oils, and resins; [HSDB]

Comments

May cause severe hepatic injury and secondary renal tubular necrosis. [LaDou, p. 553] Carbon tetrachloride is in the list of "Some volatile substances which may be abused by inhalation" published on the web site of the U.N. International Drug Control Programme, indicating its potential to cause narcosis in workers.

EPA banned use as a pesticide except on encased museum specimens; [ATSDR Case Studies # 18]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Yes

5 ppm

10 ppm

10 ppm, Ceiling(OSHA) = 25 ppm (200 ppm for 5-min peak in any 4 hrs.)

0.5 ppm

200 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Other human data: A severe case of poisoning was observed after a 3­hour exposure to concentrations ranging from 75 to 600 ppm and averaging about 210 ppm [Barnes and Jones 1967]. It has been reported that exposures to 1,000 to 2,000 ppm for 0.5 to 1 hour have caused human fatalities from acute kidney damage [AIHA 1961]. It has also been reported that a 30­minute exposure to about 300 ppm causes symptoms of intoxication [Kirk-Othmer 1964].

115 mm Hg

140 ppm

Odor Threshold High

584 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 8,000 ppm/4 hr

Explanatory Notes

Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 252 ppm); VP from HSDB;

No reports found; [TDR, p. 293]

Reference Link #2

will not burn

20 ppm

100 ppm

750 ppm

Acute solvent syndrome

Occupational hepatotoxin (principal effect)

Yes

Possible (2b)

Anticipated human carcinogen

Suspected Human

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Acute tubular necrosis
• Encephalopathy, chronic solvent
• Fumigants, acute toxic effect
• Hepatitis, chemical
• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Dry Cleaning
• Metal Degreasing
• Painting (Solvents)
• Plastic Composites Manufacturing
• Semiconductor Manufacturing

Activities

Activities with risk of exposure:

• Preparing and mounting animal skins (taxidermy)