Baby Safety / Compounds / Tetrachloroethylene (PERC)

Is Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) safe for babies and kids?

Very high risk for kids

Infants are vulnerable to Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

What is tetrachloroethylene (perc)?

The IUPAC name is 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethene.

Also known as: 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethene, TETRACHLOROETHYLENE, Tetrachloroethene, Perchloroethylene.

IUPAC name
1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethene
CAS number
127-18-4
Molecular formula
C2Cl4
Molecular weight
165.8 g/mol
SMILES
C(=C(Cl)Cl)(Cl)Cl
PubChem CID
31373

Risk for babies

Very high risk

Infants are vulnerable to Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Very high risk

Occupational and household exposure to Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) during pregnancy is associated with developmental toxicity. Solvents readily cross the placenta and can cause fetal growth restriction.

Suspected reproductive toxicant (GHS H361) or suspected endocrine disruptor. Precautionary approach warranted. Animal studies or limited human data suggest developmental toxicity potential.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

18 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Tetrachloroethylene (PERC). The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
IARC2014Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans)IARC Monograph 106 (2014). Sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals (renal tumors, hepatocellular carcinoma, mononuclear cell leukemia in rodents). Limited evidence in humans for bladder and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Metabolized via CYP2E1 to trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and DCVC (S-1,2-dichlorovinyl-L-cysteine); TCA is carcinogenic to mouse liver.
US EPA2012likely to be carcinogenic to humansEPA IRIS final assessment (2012). Bladder cancer is primary human concern; renal cancer and NHL also elevated. Oral slope factor 0.0021 per mg/kg-day; inhalation unit risk 2.6 × 10⁻⁷ per μg/m³. Vapor intrusion from dry-cleaning sites is the primary residential exposure pathway.
EPA CTX / NIOSH—potential occupational carcinogen
EPA CTX / IRIS—Likely to be carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / NTP RoC—Reasonably Anticipated to be a Human Carcinogen
EPA CTX / IARC—Group 2A - Probably carcinogenic to humans
EPA CTX / Health Canada—Group III: CEPA (possibly carcinogenic to humans)
EPA CTX / Health Canada—Group IV: CEPA (unlikely to be carcinogenic to humans) Group 2A: IARC (probably carcinogenic to humans)
EPA CTX / CalEPA—Known human carcinogen
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 5 positive / 8 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Genetox—Genotoxicity: negative (Ames: negative, 5 positive / 8 negative reports)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Skin corrosion/irritation - Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 2B (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 2 (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Eye Irritation: Category 6.4A (Category 2A) (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 6.3A (Category 2) (score: high)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—Skin Irritation: Category 6.3B (Category 3) (score: moderate)
EPA CTX / Skin-Eye—skin sensitisation: in vivo (LLNA): Low to Moderate Frequency of Sensitization (score: moderate)

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter tetrachloroethylene (perc)

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Tetrachloroethylene (PERC):

  • Wet cleaning (professional water-based)
    Trade-offs: Not suitable for all fabric types. Requires different equipment.
    Relative cost: 0.8-1.5×
  • Liquid CO2 cleaning
    Trade-offs: Equipment cost. Limited availability.
    Relative cost: 0.8-1.5×
  • Water-based formulations where feasible
    Trade-offs: Longer drying time. May not achieve same performance in all applications.
    Relative cost: 0.8-1.5×
  • Bio-based solvents (d-limonene, ethyl lactate)
    Trade-offs: Higher cost. Flammability concerns with some bio-solvents.
    Relative cost: 2-5×

Frequently asked questions

Is tetrachloroethylene (perc) safe for kids?

Infants are vulnerable to Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) through inhalation of volatile residues in household products. Immature blood-brain barrier and higher respiratory rate per body weight amplify CNS exposure.

What products contain tetrachloroethylene (perc)?

Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to tetrachloroethylene (perc)?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Why do regulators disagree about tetrachloroethylene (perc)?

Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) has been classified by 18 agencies including IARC, US EPA, EPA CTX / NIOSH, EPA CTX / IRIS, EPA CTX / NTP RoC, with differing conclusions. Regulators apply different standards of evidence (animal data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds), which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. See the regulatory consensus table on this page for the full picture.

See Tetrachloroethylene (PERC) in the baby app

Look up products containing tetrachloroethylene (perc), compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

Open in baby View raw API data

Sources (3)
  1. IARC Monographs Volume 106: Trichloroethylene, Tetrachloroethylene, and Some Other Chlorinated Agents (2014) — regulatory
  2. US EPA IRIS: Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) — Toxicological Review (Final) (2012) — regulatory
  3. ATSDR Toxicological Profile for Tetrachloroethylene (2019) — report

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →