Use is being outlawed since 1,1,1
trichloroethane is an ozone depleter.
Additionally, three groups of solvents were created, which include the following: aromatic hydrocarbon solvents (ARHC, combining exposure to benzene and toluene), chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents (CHC, combining exposure to
trichloroethanes, trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and methylene chloride), and "any solvent" exposure, combining exposure to the six individual solvents.
Very few of the HAPS on the EPA's list are present in woodworking operations, although a few such as
trichloroethane are present in some finishes and adhesives.
The shoe sprays linked recently to illness had been reformulated to eliminate 1,1,1
trichloroethane (i.e., methyl chloroform), an ozone-depleting solvent, from the formula, in accordance with Title VI of the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990(*).
A profile of the Superfund site on the EPA's website said manganese has been found in groundwater in the site, and that a well which provided water to about 60 residents of a private mobile home park was found to be contaminated with elevated levels of
trichloroethane (TCE), but a system was placed on the well to treat the contamination.
Significant releases of toxic chemicals included
trichloroethane, acetone, methylene chloride, methyl ethyl ketone, styrene, toluene, benzene and 1,1,1
trichloroethane.
Trichloroethane had the greater ozone depletion potential and an atmospheric lifetime beyond 5 years it was phased out.
The product changes involved the propellant (from carbon dioxide to propane), the solvent (from 1-1-1
trichloroethane to isooctane), and an active ingredient (from 1% FC-905 to 1.2% FC-3537 [which are both fluoroalkyl polymers in different solvents]).
From well 2B, traces of tetrachloroethene and dichloroethene (isomer not specified) were found in one sample each and a trace of
trichloroethane (again, the isomer was not specified) was found in three of the four samples.
Some 291 residential and 28 commercial properties lie within the site where groundwater is contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) and
trichloroethane (TCA).
The substances include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), halons, 1,1,1
trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride and bromochloromethane (CBM).