Transforming activities of trichloroethylene and proposed industrial alternatives

Three chlorinated hydrocarbons, proposed or already in use as industrial substitutes for the hydrocarbon trichloroethylene, were tested for in vitro transforming potential in a Fischer rat embryo cell system (F1706), which previously has been shown to be sensitive to transformation by chemical carcinogens. Trichloroethylene and the three substitutes (1, 1, 1 trichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene and methylene chloride) all were found to induce transformation, the three substitutes being equal or more efficient transforming agents.