KINETICS OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE ELIMINATION FROM VENOUS-BLOOD AFTER ACUTE INHALATION POISONING

The kinetics of trichloroethylene were examined in three men, 28-36 ye ars old, hospitalized after an acute occupational exposure. The trichl oroethylene concentration of venous blood was determined by gas chroma tography with headspace analysis; urinary trichloroacetic acid was ass ayed by the colorimetric method of Fujiwara. The kinetics of blood tri chlorethylene (t1/2 21.7 h) and the urinary elimination of trichlorace tic acid over six days were used to calculate the total inhalation exp osures. Blood trichlorethylene was diagnostically more relevant than u rinary trichloracetic acid.