METABOLIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MaryLand

After administration of trichloroethylene to dogs, trichloroethanol has been found in small amounts in the plasma and conjugated trichloroethanol has been found in large amounts in the urine. The glucuronide of trichloroethanol has been isolated from the urine. Trichloroethanol is produced in larger amounts from trichloroethylene by the dog than is trichloroacetic acid, a metabolic product previously identified.

The course of the metabolic transformations of trichloroethylene is discussed. It is suggested that trichloroethylene is initially converted to chloral hydrate, which is the immediate precursor both of trichloroethanol and of trichloroacetic acid.