Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)

Ardmore Water System

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.

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2018ND40ND
2019ND60ND
2020ND40ND
2021ND40ND
2022ND80ND
2023ND40ND

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
2018-01-23180123034-1ND
2018-04-12180412042-1ND
2018-08-1618080527-001ND
2018-10-1718100516-001ND
2019-01-2419010620-001AND
2019-01-2419010620-002AND
2019-03-1219030331-001ND
2019-05-2920105746001ND
2019-07-3020114807001ND
2019-10-2920128012001ND
2020-02-2820144376001-1ND
2020-06-1620158950001ND
2020-08-1320167221001ND
2020-10-2920177729001ND
2021-03-0435616404001ND
2021-06-1635640935001ND
2021-09-1735664186001ND
2021-11-2335679859001_IVOCND
2022-02-2835700052001_IVOCND
2022-02-2835700053001_IVOCND
2022-02-2835700053002_IVOCND
2022-05-2335719552001A_IVOCND
2022-05-2335719552001_IVOCND
2022-08-1235738848001A_IVOCND
2022-08-1235738848001_IVOCND
2022-11-2835762249001_IVOCND
2023-02-2735782140001_IVOCND
2023-05-0435797074001_IVOCND
2023-08-1835821732001_IVOCND
2023-10-2035836005001_IVOCND