What to know about carcinogen TCE that caused two Milwaukee apartment evacuations
High levels of a cancer-causing chemical have forced evacuations at two Milwaukee apartment developments this year. Here’s what you need to know about the chemical and its health hazards.
What is TCE?
Trichloroethylene, or TCE, is a man-made chemical most commonly used in factories and other manufacturing processes, according to clinical toxicologist and assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin Dr. Ryan Feldman.
Historically, it has been used to degrease metals and machinery. Other uses range from consumer goods to dry cleaning products. It was even used as a surgical anesthetic until it was banned in 1977.
“It's primarily industrial and most people get exposed to it from working with it or living near a place where it was being used,” Feldman said.
TCE is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources. The DNR monitors the chemical and coordinates with the state’s Department of Health Services and local health agencies regarding its presence at different sites.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, the chemical can release into the surrounding air, water and soil. TCE quickly evaporates from the air but does not degrade easily from soil or groundwater, Feldman said.
Why does this matter now?
In March, over 150 residents were evacuated from the Community Within The Corridor development due to levels 60 times the legal limit for TCE. This site was once part of a Briggs & Stratton industrial complex.
On Sunday, another evacuation occurred, this time at The Lyndell development near Bayshore mall in Glendale. Six residents were ordered to evacuate due to levels at least 10 times the chemical’s legal limit. This development was built on a former landfill.
Tracey Woodruff, director of the University of California, San Francisco’s Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, said evacuations of this nature are "very unusual."
“Moving them away to deal with the cleanup issue is an appropriate thing to do,” said Woodruff. “But it just reminds us that we have to be mindful about having the government be active ... and ensuring these developers and industries are held accountable.”
What are TCE’s health hazards?
Exposure to TCE can cause both short and long-term health effects. The chemical is classified as a carcinogen by several government health and environmental agencies.
Feldman noted that exposure to TCE does not always mean one will develop adverse effects.
“Being exposed doesn't mean you're going to develop cancer,” Feldman stated. “There’s an increasing likelihood.”
“Your risk goes up the more you are exposed and the longer you are exposed,” he added. “For everyone, there’s going to be different thresholds.”
The chemical can enter human bodies through air, water or soil. Although it doesn’t “hang around your body for a long time,” according to Woodruff, risks increase with prolonged exposure.
DNR's "action level" for TCE is 2.1 micrograms per cubic meter. The agency is “concerned about acute effects” for the general public if TCE levels are higher than 6.3 micrograms.
Individuals exposed to the chemical may experience headaches, dizziness and sleepiness. There can also be effects on the immune and nervous systems, Woodruff said.
Woodfruc said TCE exposure also presents concerns for fetal development and adverse birth outcomes, underscoring the chemical's link to cardiac birth defects.
What should you do if you’re exposed to TCE?
Feldman emphasized the importance of following health guidance from the state if informed of a TCE hazard.
He underscored that people should contact their primary care provider if exposed. If one is experiencing symptoms that may be due to TCE exposure, Feldman said to call the state’s poison control line at 1-800-222-1222.
Getting away from TCE is the ultimate protection mechanism, though, both Feldman and Woodruff said.
“The best thing is to avoid it,” Woodruff said.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee apartment evacuations: What to know about chemical TCE
