In vitro conjugation of the trichloroethylene metabolite trichloroethanol to a fatty acid.

Trichloroethanol (TCA), a major metabolite of the known carcinogen trichloroethylene (TCE), was shown to conjugate to palmitic acid in an in vitro rat liver coenzyme A fortified microsomal system. This conjugation of a fatty acid to one of its major metabolites may be the mechanism by which TCE is retained in the body and ultimately exerts its toxic or carcinogenic effect.