The short answer
Trichloroethylene (TCE) is an industrial degreasing solvent. NCI says prolonged or repeated exposure causes kidney cancer. People can be exposed through air, contaminated water, or food, and at work.
NCI says prolonged or repeated exposure to trichloroethylene causes kidney cancer.
People can be exposed by breathing it in air, drinking contaminated water, or eating food washed or processed with contaminated water; workers may also absorb it through the skin.
NCI says it causes kidney cancer, and that some evidence suggests possible links to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and liver cancer.
A carcinogen classification describes hazard — whether something can cause cancer — not your personal risk at a given exposure.
Choose how you want to read this
The whole article, with every detail and caution.
The simple version
Trichloroethylene, or TCE, is a solvent used to degrease metal and to make refrigerants. NCI says prolonged or repeated exposure causes kidney cancer. Workers have the most exposure, but people can also be exposed through air or contaminated water. The EPA has issued a rule prohibiting most uses of TCE.
What trichloroethylene is
NCI describes trichloroethylene as a volatile, colorless liquid that is made by industry and does not occur naturally. It is used to make refrigerants and to degrease equipment. It has also been found in consumer products such as cleaning wipes, paint removers and carpet cleaners. People living near military bases may be more exposed because equipment was degreased there in the past.
In December 2024 the EPA issued a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act that prohibits most uses of TCE. EPA has since extended some compliance dates, and parts of the rule are under court review.
How people are exposed
NCI says people can be exposed to TCE by:
- Breathing it in indoor and outdoor air.
- Drinking contaminated water.
- Eating foods washed or processed with contaminated water.
- Working with it, where workers may breathe it in or absorb it through the skin.
The cancer connection
NCI says prolonged or repeated exposure to trichloroethylene causes kidney cancer. Some evidence suggests it may also raise the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and, possibly, liver cancer.
Hazard is not the same as risk
Whether a substance can cause cancer is different from your own risk. Risk depends on how much TCE you take in, for how long, and on other factors.
Think of a worker who degreased metal with TCE for years. Now think of someone who lives far from any TCE site. Their risks are far apart.
How to lower your exposure
- Wear protective equipment when working with TCE.
- Avoid drinking water known to be contaminated with TCE.
- Follow product label instructions carefully.
- Follow the EPA restrictions that now apply to most TCE uses.
Cutting your own contact with TCE is one piece of a much bigger picture. For the rest of that picture, read our overview of cancer prevention and what raises cancer risk.
The bottom line
NCI says TCE exposure over time causes kidney cancer. If your job, water or home could expose you, ask your employer or local water utility about testing and ways to cut that exposure.
Sources
Common questions
Does trichloroethylene cause cancer?
NCI says prolonged or repeated exposure to trichloroethylene causes kidney cancer. How much any one person's risk rises depends on how much they are exposed to and for how long.
How are people exposed to trichloroethylene?
NCI says people can be exposed by inhaling it in indoor and outdoor air, drinking contaminated water, or eating foods washed or processed with contaminated water. Workers may inhale it or absorb it through the skin.
Which cancers are linked to trichloroethylene?
It is most strongly linked to kidney cancer.
How can I reduce my exposure to trichloroethylene?
NCI advises wearing protective equipment when working with TCE, avoiding drinking water known to be contaminated with it, and following product label instructions.
Does a carcinogen label mean I will get cancer?
No. A classification is about hazard — whether trichloroethylene can cause cancer — not a prediction that any one exposed person will develop cancer. Your actual risk depends on the amount and length of exposure and other factors.
Questions to ask your doctor
Being prepared helps you get the most out of your appointments. Save or print these questions.
Tap a question to save it to your list (kept on this device).
Talk with a trained specialist or navigator
Cancer Explained provides educational guidance, but does not replace trained specialists, social workers, or your medical team.
Talk to a trained cancer information specialist
Free, confidential assistance from NCI Cancer Information Service via phone, chat, or email.
Contact your oncology team
Locate after-hours contact numbers, portal messages, or urgent triage phone lines.
Find a patient navigator
Get one-on-one help with appointments, logistics, translation, and care coordination.
Find a genetic counselor
Discuss inherited mutation risk, family history, and genetic testing options.
Find an oncology social worker
Access emotional counseling, family support groups, and mental health resources.
Find a financial navigator
Locate copay assistance foundations, grant programs, and lodging/travel support.
Find a clinical-trial specialist
Search matching studies and speak with NCI trial information specialists.
Plain-language explanation of the published sources cited on this page. AI-assisted, source-checked, not clinician-reviewed.
Last updated: 2026-10-16Next planned review: 2028-07-05
Review details and limits
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status — Source checked. This page was written with AI assistance and then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
General education — varies by person. Answers genuinely differ between people. This page explains what commonly varies and points you to your care team for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Knowledge check
0 of 2 answered
This self-assessment checks understanding of educational content only. It is not medical advice.
How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
Read more about our editorial process, our use of AI, and our corrections policy.
Spotted a problem? Report an error — a factual mistake, broken or outdated source, confusing wording, or anything that seems unsafe. Please do not include names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, addresses, or other identifying medical information in your report.
After using this page, do you understand what to do next?
Anonymous — we only record the answer, never who gave it.