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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Chloroform

Rush City

Chloroform, one of the total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), is formed when chlorine or other disinfectants are used to treat drinking water. Chloroform and other disinfection byproducts increase the risk of cancer and may cause problems during pregnancy. Read More.

In addition to tap water disinfection, chloroform pollution in the environment also comes from industrial discharges from pulp and paper mills, and from urban wastewater effluent. Human studies show that chloroform damages the kidneys, liver and central nervous system. In animals, chloroform causes infertility, birth defects and cancer.

Click here to read more about disinfection byproducts.

 

9

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

1

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20140.200 ppb110.200 ppb
20150.450 ppb21ND - 0.900 ppb
2016ND20ND
2017ND10ND
2018ND20ND
2019ND10ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.4 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.4 ppb for chloroform was proposed in 2018 by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a one-in-a-million lifetime risk of cancer. Values greater than one-in-a-million cancer risk level can result in increased cancer cases above one in a million people.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-07-2314G1898-010.200 ppb
2015-04-0815D0492-01ND
2015-07-2115G1604-010.900 ppb
2016-07-1916G1259-01ND
2016-07-263504222ND
2017-07-2017G1594-01ND
2018-08-1318H0968-01ND
2018-10-1518J0675-01ND
2019-07-1719G1263-01ND