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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Philadelphia Water Department

Dry cleaning chemical tetrachloroethylene, or perc, can cause cancer. It pollutes soil and groundwater due to emissions from dry cleaning facilities, and automotive, metalworking and other industries. Read More.

The EPA considers tetrachloroethylene a likely human carcinogen. It has been linked with increased incidence of lung, breast and colon cancers. Tetrachloroethylene also damages the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. The California public health goal of 0.06 parts per billion, set to protect against cancer, is 80 times lower than the amount allowed by the federal government, which is a Maximum Contaminant Level of 5 parts per billion.

Click here to read more about carcinogenic VOCs.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

81

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013N/A00N/A
2014ND150ND
2015ND120ND
2016ND120ND
2017ND150ND
2018ND150ND
2019ND120ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.06 ppb

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.06 ppb for tetrachloroethylene 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 tetrachloroethylene, established in 1991, 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 tetrachloroethylene exposure.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-12DW140212-000ND
2014-02-12DW140212-001ND
2014-02-12DW140212-003ND
2014-05-147463348ND
2014-05-147468948ND
2014-05-147463350ND
2014-05-147468950ND
2014-05-147468949ND
2014-05-147463349ND
2014-08-137570046ND
2014-08-137570047ND
2014-08-137570048ND
2014-11-19DW141119-002ND
2014-11-19DW141119-038ND
2014-11-19DW141119-019ND
2015-02-1112406542ND
2015-02-1112406502ND
2015-02-1112406522ND
2015-05-1312754294ND
2015-05-1312754314ND
2015-05-1312754274ND
2015-08-1213140301ND
2015-08-1213140321ND
2015-08-1213140281ND
2015-11-1813518622ND
2015-11-1813518642ND
2015-11-1813518602ND
2016-02-1013874736ND
2016-02-1013874716ND
2016-02-1013874696ND
2016-05-1114257197ND
2016-05-1114257237ND
2016-05-1114257217ND
2016-08-1014741978ND
2016-08-1014742018ND
2016-08-1014741998ND
2016-11-0915231754ND
2016-11-0915231714ND
2016-11-0915231734ND
2017-02-0815662031ND
2017-02-0815662011ND
2017-02-0815661991ND
2017-05-1016101794ND
2017-05-1016101814ND
2017-05-1016100854ND
2017-05-1016100814ND
2017-05-1016101774ND
2017-05-1016100834ND
2017-08-0916572507ND
2017-08-0916572527ND
2017-08-0916572487ND
2017-11-0817029201ND
2017-11-0817029221ND
2017-11-0817029181ND
2018-02-07DW180207-019ND
2018-02-07DW180207-037ND
2018-02-07DW180207-002ND
2018-05-09DW180509-019ND
2018-05-09DW180509-002ND
2018-05-09DW180509-035ND
2018-08-08DW180808-002ND
2018-08-088083919-01ND
2018-08-088083919-02ND
2018-08-08DW180808-019ND
2018-08-088083919-03ND
2018-08-08DW180808-035ND
2018-11-07DW181107-002ND
2018-11-07DW181107-018ND
2018-11-08DW181108-038ND
2019-02-13DW190213-034ND
2019-02-13DW190213-018ND
2019-02-13DW190213-002ND
2019-05-15DW190515-035ND
2019-05-15DW190515-019ND
2019-05-15DW190515-002ND
2019-08-149084421-06ND
2019-08-149084421-07ND
2019-08-149084421-08ND
2019-11-13DW191113-019ND
2019-11-13DW191113-035ND
2019-11-13DW191113-002ND