Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Brent Utilities Board

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.

 

47

Samples

8

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

35

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
20180.490 ppb42ND - 1.14 ppb
20192.44 ppb660.680 ppb - 6.70 ppb
20201.34 ppb95ND - 5.70 ppb
20212.44 ppb85ND - 8.00 ppb
20222.55 ppb10100.700 ppb - 12.0 ppb
20232.40 ppb107ND - 6.20 ppb

ppb = parts per billion

State, National, and Health Guidelines for Drinking Water

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
2018-01-291801290007-1ND
2018-04-30810430018-10.820 ppb
2018-09-2418090637-001AND
2018-10-3018100645-001A1.14 ppb
2019-01-2219010559-001A0.680 ppb
2019-04-2619040700-001A0.830 ppb
2019-07-2620114440001_IVOC0.980 ppb
2019-07-2620114443001_IVOC4.50 ppb
2019-10-0420124548001_IVOC6.70 ppb
2019-10-0420124549001_IVOC0.940 ppb
2020-03-0920145687004_IVOCND
2020-03-0920145687003_IVOCND
2020-03-0920145687002_IVOC0.630 ppb
2020-03-0920145687001_IVOC5.70 ppb
2020-05-1920155148001_IVOC3.70 ppb
2020-05-1920155148002_IVOCND
2020-07-0720161416002_IVOCND
2020-10-2720177359001_IVOC1.50 ppb
2020-10-2720177359002_IVOC0.550 ppb
2021-02-2535614541001_IVOC3.00 ppb
2021-02-2535614541002_IVOCND
2021-04-1935626991001_IVOC0.790 ppb
2021-04-1935626998001_IVOC6.80 ppb
2021-07-2735650493001ND
2021-07-2735650493002ND
2021-10-2235672325001_IVOC0.950 ppb
2021-10-2235672329001_IVOC8.00 ppb
2022-03-1035702618001_IVOC3.40 ppb
2022-03-1035703015002_IVOC0.700 ppb
2022-05-2335719603001_IVOC2.20 ppb
2022-05-2335719603002_IVOC0.900 ppb
2022-06-1335724366001_IVOC1.70 ppb
2022-06-1335724366002_IVOC1.10 ppb
2022-08-2635742678001_IVOC12.0 ppb
2022-08-2635742678002_IVOC1.40 ppb
2022-10-2435755187001_IVOC0.970 ppb
2022-10-2435755187002_IVOC1.10 ppb
2023-01-2435774467001_IVOC6.20 ppb
2023-01-2435774467002_IVOC1.70 ppb
2023-01-2435774467003_IVOCND
2023-01-2435774467004_IVOCND
2023-05-1935800886001_IVOC6.00 ppb
2023-05-1935800886002_IVOCND
2023-07-3135816711001_IVOC6.00 ppb
2023-07-3135816711002_IVOC1.10 ppb
2023-10-2035836003001_IVOC1.30 ppb
2023-10-2035836003002_IVOC1.70 ppb