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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Lynwood Water Department

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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

36

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND40ND
2015ND50ND
2016ND50ND
2017ND60ND
2018ND40ND
2019ND120ND

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
2014-01-229588-009-1103ND
2014-01-229588-008-1115ND
2014-07-169588-011-0953ND
2014-10-159588-016-0818ND
2015-01-149588-008-1040ND
2015-01-149588-009-1053ND
2015-04-089588-016-0936ND
2015-07-159588-011-1055ND
2015-10-199588-016-1000ND
2016-01-139588-008-1300ND
2016-01-139588-009-1245ND
2016-04-139588-008-1018ND
2016-04-139588-009-1002ND
2016-07-139588-011-0940ND
2017-01-119588-008-0945ND
2017-01-119588-009-1020ND
2017-06-209588-016-0930ND
2017-07-129588-011-1000ND
2017-10-119588-009-1015ND
2017-10-119588-008-1040ND
2018-01-109588-009-1030ND
2018-01-109588-008-1115ND
2018-04-189588-016-0950ND
2018-07-099588-011-0944ND
2019-01-099588-009-1030ND
2019-03-149588-008-0910ND
2019-03-149588-008-0905ND
2019-04-109588-008-1040ND
2019-04-109588-016-1000ND
2019-05-099588-008-0945ND
2019-06-129588-008-1006ND
2019-07-119588-008-1000ND
2019-08-219588-008-1105ND
2019-09-119588-008-1025ND
2019-10-169588-008-1035ND
2019-11-129588-008-1110ND