Chloroform
Los Alamos Municipal Water System
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.
Samples
Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)
Samples exceeding
health guidelines
Testing results - average by year
| Year | Average result | Samples taken | Detections | Range of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | ND | 8 | 0 | ND |
| 2015 | 0.414 ppb | 20 | 12 | ND - 1.20 ppb |
| 2016 | 1.18 ppb | 16 | 16 | 0.250 ppb - 10.00 ppb |
| 2017 | 0.971 ppb | 12 | 12 | 0.340 ppb - 2.90 ppb |
| 2018 | 1.02 ppb | 16 | 16 | 0.300 ppb - 3.30 ppb |
| 2019 | 0.948 ppb | 8 | 8 | 0.290 ppb - 3.20 ppb |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014-03-05 | 1403213-001A | ND |
| 2014-03-05 | 1403210-001A | ND |
| 2014-03-05 | 1403211-001A | ND |
| 2014-06-10 | 1406450-001A | ND |
| 2014-06-10 | 1406447-001A | ND |
| 2014-06-10 | 1406449-001A | ND |
| 2014-09-24 | 1409C06-001A | ND |
| 2014-09-24 | 1409C33-001A | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 1502748-001A | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 1502750-001A | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 1502747-001A | ND |
| 2015-02-18 | 1502752-001A | ND |
| 2015-03-09 | 1503352-001A | ND |
| 2015-03-09 | 1503355-001A | ND |
| 2015-03-09 | 1503354-001A | ND |
| 2015-03-09 | 1503351-001A | ND |
| 2015-06-08 | 2015016987 | 0.760 ppb |
| 2015-06-08 | 2015016988 | 0.720 ppb |
| 2015-06-08 | 2015016989 | 0.520 ppb |
| 2015-06-08 | 2015016986 | 0.460 ppb |
| 2015-09-08 | 2015026865 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2015-09-08 | 2015026867 | 0.850 ppb |
| 2015-09-08 | 2015026866 | 1.000 ppb |
| 2015-09-08 | 2015026868 | 1.20 ppb |
| 2015-12-08 | 2015035924 | 0.420 ppb |
| 2015-12-08 | 2015035923 | 0.390 ppb |
| 2015-12-08 | 2015035921 | 0.330 ppb |
| 2015-12-08 | 2015035922 | 0.430 ppb |
| 2016-03-08 | 2016006617 | 0.760 ppb |
| 2016-03-08 | 2016006620 | 0.340 ppb |
| 2016-03-08 | 2016006618 | 0.310 ppb |
| 2016-03-08 | 2016006619 | 0.260 ppb |
| 2016-06-06 | 2016015779 | 10.00 ppb |
| 2016-06-06 | 2016015776 | 0.250 ppb |
| 2016-06-06 | 2016015778 | 0.660 ppb |
| 2016-06-06 | 2016015777 | 0.690 ppb |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016026210 | 0.870 ppb |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016026209 | 0.830 ppb |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016026207 | 0.730 ppb |
| 2016-09-07 | 2016026208 | 0.470 ppb |
| 2016-12-07 | 2016035069 | 0.540 ppb |
| 2016-12-07 | 2016035070 | 0.930 ppb |
| 2016-12-07 | 2016035067 | 0.660 ppb |
| 2016-12-07 | 2016035068 | 0.560 ppb |
| 2017-03-15 | 2017007539 | 0.640 ppb |
| 2017-03-15 | 2017007538 | 0.360 ppb |
| 2017-03-15 | 2017007537 | 0.340 ppb |
| 2017-03-24 | 2017008621 | 0.400 ppb |
| 2017-06-16 | 2017017709 | 0.650 ppb |
| 2017-06-16 | 2017017710 | 0.740 ppb |
| 2017-06-16 | 2017017708 | 1.90 ppb |
| 2017-06-16 | 2017017707 | 2.90 ppb |
| 2017-09-11 | 2017026121 | 1.40 ppb |
| 2017-09-11 | 2017026118 | 0.980 ppb |
| 2017-09-11 | 2017026120 | 0.680 ppb |
| 2017-09-11 | 2017026119 | 0.660 ppb |
| 2018-03-07 | 2018006697 | 0.360 ppb |
| 2018-03-07 | 2018006696 | 1.60 ppb |
| 2018-03-07 | 2018006695 | 0.500 ppb |
| 2018-03-07 | 2018006694 | 0.930 ppb |
| 2018-06-13 | 2018016393 | 0.840 ppb |
| 2018-06-13 | 2018016392 | 1.000 ppb |
| 2018-06-13 | 2018016391 | 3.30 ppb |
| 2018-06-13 | 2018016390 | 0.880 ppb |
| 2018-09-11 | 2018025476 | 1.10 ppb |
| 2018-09-11 | 2018025477 | 2.10 ppb |
| 2018-09-11 | 2018025478 | 0.990 ppb |
| 2018-09-11 | 2018025479 | 0.640 ppb |
| 2018-12-12 | 2018034406 | 0.300 ppb |
| 2018-12-12 | 2018034407 | 0.960 ppb |
| 2018-12-12 | 2018034408 | 0.480 ppb |
| 2018-12-12 | 2018034409 | 0.320 ppb |
| 2019-03-15 | 2019006517 | 0.300 ppb |
| 2019-03-15 | 2019006519 | 0.420 ppb |
| 2019-03-15 | 2019006518 | 0.290 ppb |
| 2019-03-15 | 2019006516 | 3.20 ppb |
| 2019-06-12 | 2019016229 | 0.540 ppb |
| 2019-06-12 | 2019016228 | 1.80 ppb |
| 2019-06-12 | 2019016227 | 0.470 ppb |
| 2019-06-12 | 2019016226 | 0.560 ppb |