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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

City of Broussard Highway 90 Water System

Carbon tetrachloride, a volatile carcinogenic solvent, has been used in industrial chemical production and as a dry cleaning ingredient. Read More.

Carbon tetrachloride is no longer permitted in products intended for home use in the U.S. In the past, it was widely used as a dry cleaning ingredient, fire extinguishing chemical, pesticide and chemical intermediate for manufacturing refrigerants. Carbon tetrachloride does not break down easily and can remain in groundwater for years. In addition to increasing cancer risk, carbon tetrachloride harms the liver and causes central nervous system depression, irregular heart rate, and kidney damage. Maternal exposure to carbon tetrachloride in drinking water has been associated with a risk of birth defects.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

 

50

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND240ND
2015ND40ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND60ND
2018ND40ND
2019N/A00N/A

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for carbon tetrachloride was defined by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 5 ppb

The legal limit for carbon tetrachloride, established in 1987, was based on analytical detection limits at the time that the standard was set. This limit does not fully protect against the risk of cancer due to carbon tetrachloride exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-17AD89082ND
2014-02-17AD89082ND
2014-03-24AD89953ND
2014-03-24AD89952ND
2014-03-24AD89953ND
2014-03-24AD89952ND
2014-05-05AD91181ND
2014-05-05AD91179ND
2014-05-05AD91180ND
2014-05-05AD91181ND
2014-05-05AD91180ND
2014-05-05AD91179ND
2014-09-15AD96936ND
2014-09-15AD96937ND
2014-09-15AD96938ND
2014-09-15AD96936ND
2014-09-15AD96937ND
2014-09-15AD96938ND
2014-11-17AD99809ND
2014-11-17AD99810ND
2014-11-17AD99811ND
2014-11-17AD99809ND
2014-11-17AD99810ND
2014-11-17AD99811ND
2015-11-3035218949002ND
2015-11-3035218949001ND
2015-11-3035218949002ND
2015-11-3035218949001ND
2016-06-0735248530008ND
2016-06-0735248530006ND
2016-06-0735248530007ND
2016-06-0735248530006ND
2016-06-0735248530007ND
2016-06-0735248530008ND
2016-11-0135274958005ND
2016-11-0135274958005ND
2016-11-0135274958004ND
2016-11-0135274958003ND
2016-11-0135274958003ND
2016-11-0135274958004ND
2017-03-0335299127005ND
2017-03-0335299127004ND
2017-03-0335299127003ND
2017-03-0335299127003ND
2017-03-0335299127004ND
2017-03-0335299127005ND
2018-06-1235398353001ND
2018-06-1235398353002ND
2018-06-1235398353001ND
2018-06-1235398353002ND