Summary of the Public Health Goal for 1,1,2-Trichloro-1,2,2-Trifluoroethane (FC-113)
A Public Health Goal (PHG) of 4 mg/L (4 ppm) is developed for 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2- trifluoroethane (FC-113) in drinking water. FC-113 has a variety of uses, including degreasing and drying applications, as a refrigerant and as a cutting fluid. The compound is practically nontoxic when given in single doses either orally, dermally or by inhalation. Repeated short-term administration in several species did not reveal any distinctive toxicological effects. Cardiac sensitization was seen in certain species, particularly in the dog; this phenomenon has been reported at 1,200 ppm and higher. Chronic inhalation by rats of up to 20,000 ppm FC-113 did not cause any clear carcinogenic effect, although noncarcinogenic health effects such as an increase in liver weight occurred at doses as low as 2,000 ppm, the lowest dose tested. Mutagenicity assays are limited to the Ames Salmonella test and the dominant lethal assay in mice, both of which failed to demonstrate a significant mutagenic response. In one epidemiological study, workers exposed to 46 to 4,700 ppm FC-113 daily displayed no signs of toxicity. Although 45 ppm FC-113 in air can be detected, the taste or odor threshold for this chemical is greater than 300 ppm in tap water. No sensitive subpopulations were identified. There are no data suggesting increased sensitivity to FC-113 exposure in children or infants. Using the results of a chronic bioassay in rats, a PHG of 4 mg/L (4 ppm) is calculated for FC-113 in drinking water.
- trichlorotrifluoroethane (Freon 113)