Host and agent factors modifying metabolism of trichloroethylene.

Abstract

An apparent difference in trichloroethylene metabolism was observed between animals; human, rabbit and rat exposed to trichloroethylene. Rats metabolized the substance most rapidly, while metabolism in human proceeded at the slowest rate. The ratio of trichloroethanol to trichloroacetic acid, both the main metabolites in urine, was the largest in rabbit and the smallest in human.There was not observed a significant sex difference in trichloroethylene meta-bolism in rat, while there seemed to exist the age difference in trichloroethylene metabolism in rat though not significant.The metabolic pathway of trichloroethylene in rats did not alter with the size of trichloroethylene intraperitoneally injected at dose levels of 22-368 mg/kg. This might suggest to establish the maximum allowable concentration of trichloroethylene in the working environment from the viewpoints other than the altered metabolic pathway of trichloroethylene with the difference dose level. It was probably due to the physical mechanism that the ratio of total trichloro-compounds in urine to the dose of trichloroethylene decreased with the increase of dose.