Exposure to trichloroethylene I. Uptake and distribution in man

Fifteen healthy male subjects were exposed to about 540 and 1,080 mg/m3 of trichloroethylene (TRI) in the air during rest and exercise on a bicycle ergometer. Each subject was exposed during four 30-min periods. The arterial blood concentration increased linearly with the concentration in the alveolar air. The uptake of TRI was about 55% of the supplied amount at rest. At a work load of 150 W during the fourth period the percentage uptake decreased to about 25%. For one fairly thin subject the uptake was near zero at the end of exposure. This development was probably due to the relatively low solubility of TRI in blood and tissues. The uptake of TRI may be estimated from pulmonary ventilation and the concentration in alveolar and inspiratory air.