The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) set a limit of 10 ppm for carbon tetrachloride in workplace air for an 8-hour workday,
40-hour workweek.
Studies in humans have not been able to determine whether or not carbon tetrachloride can cause cancer because usually there has been exposure to
other chemicals at the same time. Swallowing or breathing carbon tetrachloride for years caused liver tumors in animals. Mice that breathed carbon
tetrachloride also developed tumors of the adrenal gland.
High exposure to carbon tetrachloride can cause liver, kidney, and central nervous system damage. These effects can occur after ingestion or breathing
carbon tetrachloride, and possibly from exposure to the skin. The liver is especially sensitive to carbon tetrachloride because it enlarges and cells
are damaged or destroyed.
Kidneys also are damaged, causing a build up of wastes in the blood. If exposure is low and brief, the liver and kidneys can repair
the damaged cells and function normally again. Effects of carbon tetrachloride are more severe in persons who drink large amounts of alcohol.
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