• C₂Cl₄
• Molecular Weight = 165.8
• Density = 1.2g/ml at 20^oC
• Insoluable in water
• Absorbes infrared radiation
• In air, 1ppm is equivalent to 6.78mg                                                               ^{(CEPA Assessment Report)  Advanced Chemical Properties}

In a Priority Substance List (PSL) assessment report, published in 1993, on tetrochloroethylene, it was concluded that current releases of Tetrochloroethylene could harm the environment (section 11(a) of the act).

The environmental toxicity of tetrochloroethylene was mainly based on a finding that ambient air concentrations at times exceeded the toxic levels for plants. Limited data aslo indicated that tetrochloroethylene concentrations  in some surface waters replenished by contaminated groundwater exceeded the toxic level for the most sensitive aquatic species. Exposure levels of the general population of Canada were found to be below the tolerable daily intake, however given the small 'margin of safety', any action that would further reduce  human exposure to tetrochloroethylene are deemed desireable from a health protection viewpoint.

The fedaral Government's Toxic Substances Management Policy provided the science-based framework for addressing the Tetrochloroethylene. Under this policy tetrochloroethylene is a track 2 substance because its bioaccumulation characteristics do not meet criteria for track 1 substance.

The policy sets forth a management goal to minimize environment and health risk of track 2 toxic substances by reducing exposure to and/or their releases to the extent possible throughout the substances life cycle. Accordly, the selection of the best management options for tetrochloroethylene took into account scientific, technical and socio-economic considerations.
                                                                                                                                                            (CEPA,1996)