Risk Evaluation for Perchloroethylene

EPA evaluated perchloroethylene under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and completed the final risk evaluation in December 2020. The next step in the process required by TSCA is addressing these risks. EPA will now begin the process of developing ways to address the unreasonable risks identified and has one year to propose and take public comments on any risk management actions.

Find information about other chemicals undergoing risk evaluations under TSCA. 

Learn more about risk management for perchloroethylene.

On this page:

• Background on Perchloroethylene
• Uses of Perchloroethylene
• Risk Evaluation of Perchloroethylene under Amended TSCA

Background on Perchloroethylene 

Perchloroethylene is a colorless liquid used primarily in industrial settings for the production of fluorinated compounds and as a solvent.

Uses of Perchloroethylene 

This chemical is also used as a solvent for cleaning and degreasing, and in lubricants, adhesives, and sealants. Perchloroethylene has a limited number of consumer uses in products like adhesives for arts and crafts and stainless steel polish.  

Risk Evaluation of Perchloroethylene under Amended TSCA

In December 2020, EPA released the final risk evaluation for perchloroethylene. The final risk evaluation shows that there are unreasonable risks to workers, occupational non-users, consumers, and bystanders from 59 conditions of use. EPA found no unreasonable risks to the environment.

• Read the final risk evaluation for perchloroethylene.

In April 2020, EPA released the draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene for public comment and peer review. 

• Read the draft risk evaluation for perchloroethylene.
• Learn more about the peer review for perchloroethylene.

In June 2017, EPA released the scope document for perchloroethylene which included the hazards, exposures, conditions of use, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations EPA expected to consider in its risk evaluation. In June 2018, EPA released the problem formulation for perchloroethylene which refined the scope of the risk evaluation by clarifying the chemical conditions of use that EPA expected to evaluate and describing how EPA expected to conduct the evaluation.

• Read the problem formulation for perchloroethylene
• Read the scope document and supplemental files for perchloroethylene

After releasing the scope documents for each of the first 10 chemicals undergoing risk evaluation under TSCA, the dockets for each of these first 10 chemicals were open for public comments. Read EPA’s Responses to Public Comments Received on the Scope Documents for the First Ten Chemicals for Risk Evaluation under TSCA. This document addresses cross-cutting public comments received in response to the scope document.