ABSTRACT
Methyl chloroform has been used as a solvent primarily for vapor degreasing, cold-cleaning, dip cleaning, and bucket-cleaning of metal for the removal of greases, oils, and waxes. Historically, it has been a common substitute for carbon tetrachloride. Methyl chloroform is used in aerosol formulations, both as a solvent and as a low-pressure propellant. The presence of methyl chloroform in blood during the exposures and the concentration of the compound in the expired air after the exposures were determined by infrared spectrometric methods. Methyl chloroform was observed to give a prolonged exponential decay curve when its concentration in the postexposure expired air was plotted versus hours of postexposure. Methyl chloroform is rapidly absorbed through the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract. The proarrhythmic activity of methyl chloroform has been investigated in the dog. The diagnosis of exposure to methyl chloro form depends on the detection of the compound in the expired air, blood, or tissue of the individual.
