Metabolism of Perchloroethylene and 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane After Carbon Tetrachloride Pretreatment in B6C3F1 Mice

Risk assessments for chlorinated solvents are typically only done for single chemicals, and clean up costs are based on these assessments. However, groundwater and drinking water supplies are usually contaminated with multiple compounds. The most commonly used approach for assessing risks to multiple chemical exposures assumes additivity of response. This study investigates the effect of exposure to mixtures of carbon tetrachloride and 2 other chlorinated solvents, perchloroethylene and 1,1,1 ,2-tetrachloroethane. Metabolite formation, which is the process thought to be responsible for toxicity is affect carbon tetrachloride. By understanding the alteration in metabolic outcome for perchlorethylene and 1,1,1 ,2-tetrachloroethane the assessment of risk associated with exposures to these types of mixtures may be more science-based.