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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Carbon tetrachloride

Town of Payson

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

 

66

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

0

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2014ND60ND
2015ND60ND
2016ND270ND
2017ND70ND
2018ND130ND
2019ND70ND

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
2014-02-11550-19477-5ND
2014-10-27550-34133-5ND
2014-10-27550-34133-4ND
2014-10-27550-34133-3ND
2014-10-27550-34133-2ND
2014-10-27550-34133-1ND
2015-09-29201509300285VND
2015-09-29201509300281VND
2015-09-29201509300282VND
2015-09-29201509300283VND
2015-09-29201509300284VND
2015-09-29201509300286VND
2016-10-24201610250338VND
2016-10-24201610250333VND
2016-10-24201610250334VND
2016-10-24201610250335VND
2016-10-24201610250336VND
2016-10-24201610250337VND
2016-10-24201610250339VND
2016-10-24201610250340VND
2016-10-24201610250341VND
2016-10-25201610260516VND
2016-10-25201610260515VND
2016-10-25201610260514VND
2016-10-25201610260513VND
2016-10-25201610260512VND
2016-10-25201610260511VND
2016-10-25201610260510VND
2016-10-25201610260509VND
2016-10-25201610260508VND
2016-10-26201610270328VND
2016-10-26201610270330VND
2016-10-26201610270329VND
2016-10-26201610270327VND
2016-10-26201610270326VND
2016-10-26201610270325VND
2016-10-26201610270324VND
2016-10-26201610270323VND
2016-10-26201610270322VND
2017-10-24201710250593VND
2017-10-24201710250588VND
2017-10-24201710250589VND
2017-10-24201710250590VND
2017-10-24201710250591VND
2017-10-24201710250592VND
2017-10-24201710250594VND
2018-02-20550-98271-2ND
2018-02-20550-98271-1ND
2018-05-08550-102632-2ND
2018-05-08550-102632-1ND
2018-08-21550-108420-7ND
2018-08-21550-108420-6ND
2018-08-21550-108420-5ND
2018-08-21550-108420-4ND
2018-08-21550-108420-3ND
2018-08-21550-108420-2ND
2018-08-21550-108420-1ND
2018-11-19550-113655-2ND
2018-11-19550-113655-01ND
2019-02-13550-118035-1ND
2019-10-30201910310693VND
2019-10-30201910310698VND
2019-10-30201910310697VND
2019-10-30201910310696VND
2019-10-30201910310695VND
2019-10-30201910310694VND