Such effects are usually reversible if exposure is not too high or too long. The kidney is also sensitive to carbon tetrachloride. Kidney failure often was the main cause of death in people who died after very high exposure to carbon tetrachloride. Fortunately, if injuries to the liver and kidney are not too severe, these effects disappear after exposure stops. This is because both organs can repair damaged cells and replace dead cells and associated materials.
Function usually returns to normal within a few days or weeks after exposure.
After exposure to high levels of carbon tetrachloride, the nervous system, including the brain, is affected. Such exposure can be fatal. The immediate effects are usually signs of intoxication, including headache, dizziness, and sleepiness perhaps accompanied by nausea and vomiting. These effects usually disappear within a day or two after exposure stops. In severe cases, stupor or even coma can result, and permanent damage to nerve cells can occur.