Chloroform

Carthage

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2013	N/A	0	0	N/A
2014	ND	2	0	ND
2015	ND	2	0	ND
2016	ND	4	0	ND
2017	ND	2	0	ND
2018	0.385 ppb	2	1	ND - 0.770 ppb
2019	ND	9	0	ND

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
2014-08-29	AC33349	ND
2014-08-29	AC33348	ND
2015-08-20	AC57441	ND
2015-08-20	AC57440	ND
2016-01-25	AC65785	ND
2016-01-25	AC65786	ND
2016-08-01	AC79860	ND
2016-08-01	AC79861	ND
2017-08-21	AD03453	ND
2017-08-21	AD03454	ND
2018-08-20	AD31234	ND
2018-08-20	AD31235	0.770 ppb
2019-02-04	AD38449	ND
2019-02-04	AD38450	ND
2019-02-22	AD40415	ND
2019-03-05	AD41352	ND
2019-04-16	AD47162	ND
2019-07-22	AD52741	ND
2019-08-19	AD53966	ND
2019-08-19	AD53965	ND
2019-10-18	AD57410	ND